Welcome to Karlstad University

News

• 2025-10-02

  Welcome to This Year’s Docent Lectures at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

  On 15 October, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Karlstad University invites you to this year’s open docent lectures. Staff, students and the interested public are warmly welcome.

  Newly appointed docents will present their research in areas such as digitalisation, welfare services, gender, migration and much more. The lectures are popular-science in nature and open to all. No pre-registration is required.

  “The docents appointed during autumn 2024 and spring 2025 are invited to present their research,” says Dean Martin Grimberg Löfgren. “In addition to being a fine tradition where we honour our new docents, it is also a way of offering insight into the diverse research being conducted here at the faculty, presented in a popular-scientific way.”

• 2025-10-01

  Between ideals and reality – why sustainable consumption is harder than we think

  What does it actually mean to be a sustainable consumer? And why is it so hard to live up to the ideals, even when the willingness is there? In her doctoral thesis, Anne-Charlotte Paas, who recently completed her PhD in Business Administration at Karlstad Business School, wanted to know more about why it is so difficult to lead a sustainable life despite the threat of our planet’s collapse.

  The doctoral thesis “Of Course I Want to Be Sustainable, but… : A Qualitative Study on Sustainable Consumption and Identity Construction” highlights the challenges of making everyday life as sustainable as possible. Household waste needs to be sorted, cycling or public transport should be the first choice, electronics should be switched off when not in use and food should ideally be organic. There is a lot to stay on top of to keep a clear conscience. These are the challenges that Anne-Charlotte Paas wanted to explore in her doctoral thesis.

• 2025-10-01

  The hedgehog is a garden friend in need

  The hedgehog is one of our most beloved garden visitors, but the species is under threat. A new red list for 2025 is underway, and preliminary findings suggest that the hedgehog may be moved from its current status of “Near Threatened” (NT) to “Vulnerable” (V). Petter Sjöström at Karlstad University is analysing thousands of observations from across the country as part of this year’s Hedgehog Awareness Week, initiated by WWF and Nordens Ark.

  – I wanted to write about something that truly matters, says Petter Sjöström, master’s student in biology. People care about hedgehogs, but this is also about biodiversity. By protecting the hedgehog, we protect many other species as well.

  Citizen research in practice
  
  Thousands of individuals reported their hedgehog observations and whether the animals were present (alive or dead) or absent to WWF and Nordens Ark between 11 and 17 August. Petter is now analysing this comprehensive amount of data as part of his degree project.

• 2025-10-01

  Words from our senior management: We are an engine for innovation and growth

  Did you know that since 2010, 314 new companies have been established as a result of our research and education activities – an average of 24 per year? Since 2018, these companies have collectively created over 600 jobs. In recent years, they have generated a turnover of nearly SEK 800 million and contributed to increased tax revenue, from SEK 80 million in 2018 to SEK 196 million in 2023.

  Our contribution to growth and development is already significant, but there is great potential to do even more. Today, our innovation efforts are centred around certain subject areas, degree programmes and dedicated individuals among our staff. So, how do we go from good to even better? We do it by strengthening our ability to support the commercialisation and practical application of research.

• 2025-09-29

  Research groups: What works and why?

  Together with a group of researchers at Charles Sturt University in Australia, the research group SOL* at Karlstad University is running the APPLES project. The aim is to find out what makes a research group successful. Preliminary findings from the Nordic countries show that the factor researchers themselves consider most important is having basic structures in place – without these, it is impossible to build an effective research group.

  – Many researchers belong to research groups, yet little is known about what makes a group effective and how it benefits individual researchers and their ability to produce high-quality research, says Lennart Karlsson, doctoral student in educational work at Karlstad University. Our preliminary findings from the Nordic countries highlight the importance of having basic structures in place. 

  These structures include factors such as technical resources, set times for meetings, regular gatherings and strong leadership with a clear agenda. 

• 2025-09-23

  Music producers have the opportunity to build their own universe

  What does your life actually sound like? Jenny Wilson, adjunct professor at Ingesund School of Music, believes that your personal life journey is the most exciting thing about you as a songwriter, producer, and artist. What is your story, and how do you share it? Daring to experiment with music is something close to Jenny’s heart, and she will continue doing just that with the students in the music production program for another year, with support of the Wettergren Foundation.

  Throughout your career, you’ve created productions and works that reflect your life. Some parts include traumas you’ve experienced. Hasn’t it been scary and difficult to make your experiences public?