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News

• 2026-09-29

  Music Education Student Goes on Exchange to Germany

  Margareta Uusijärvi, originally from Stockholm, is about to begin her third year in the Music Teacher Education Programme at the Ingesund School of Music. Instead of settling in at the school for the upcoming autumn semester, she has chosen to study abroad through EUNICE, the European university alliance of which Karlstad University is a member together with nine other European universities, during the coming academic year.

  “Since the third year of the Music Teacher Education Programme is designed around a great deal of independent study, I decided to take the opportunity to broaden my horizons abroad. I have chosen Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg in Cottbus, Germany, which is part of EUNICE. One of the reasons for my choice is that I have previously lived in Germany as an au pair and speak German. During that time, I lived with a German family, sang in a choir in my spare time, and also took German lessons. Studying at a German university will be more formal.

• 2026-09-29

  Stop Blaming the Packaging – It May Be Food’s Best Friend

  – Without packaging, food waste would increase dramatically, say researchers Fredrik Wikström and Helén Williams at the Service Research Center (CTF) at Karlstad University.

  29 September is International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. As global interest in conserving resources continues to grow, researchers Fredrik Wikström and Helén Williams have now seen their book Stop Food Waste translated into English. Through the book, they aim to highlight the importance of viewing the entire product system, not just the food itself.

• 2026-09-25

  Home Sorting Initiative in Karlstad Municipality Gives Students Hands-On Project Management Experience

  The introduction of new waste sorting bins in Karlstad Municipality has turned into a perfect learning opportunity for students enrolled in the Master's Programme in Project Management at the School of Business.

  – This project contains many fascinating elements that fit perfectly with our programme, says John Johansson, lecturer in Business Administration at Karlstad Business School.

  The project is something of a dream case for project management education. It is driven by legal requirements, affects people's everyday lives, and involves extensive logistics that must be carefully planned and executed.

• 2026-09-24

  New doctoral thesis challenges the view of young people as passive screen users

  Screen time is often associated with concerns about declining reading habits and lower educational attainment. A new doctoral thesis by Sofia Oldin Cederwall, new PhD in Comparative Literature at Karlstad University, shows that upper secondary school students who watch television series are doing more than simply consuming entertainment. They analyse narratives, interpret characters, and engage in sophisticated discussions about plot and storytelling.

  In her thesis, Sofia Oldin Cederwall examined how upper secondary school students discuss and interpret television series such as Breaking Bad, Euphoria, Friends, Gossip Girl and Stranger Things. The study shows that watching television series is not only a form of entertainment, but also involves interpreting narratives, understanding characters, and analysing plots and themes.

• 2026-09-22

  Digitalisation creates both opportunities and barriers for older migrants

  Digital technology can strengthen contact with family and friends across national borders, but it can also create new barriers for older people with a migrant background. This is shown by research from Sweden, Finland and Japan examining how digitalisation affects older people’s everyday lives, relationships and access to welfare services.

  The research shows that digital technology can create important opportunities for older migrants, for example by making it easier to stay in touch with family and friends in different countries. At the same time, digitalisation can create new barriers as essential services in healthcare, social care and public services become increasingly digitalised.

• 2026-09-21

  Alum of the Year 2026: Jerry Lidberg

  Jerry Lidberg, head of operations at Region Värmland’s Neurology and Rehabilitation clinic, has been named Alum of the Year 2026 by Karlstad University. Through his commitment to clinical practice and leadership, he demonstrates how a role of great societal importance can take many different forms.

  Jerry Lidberg graduated as a registered nurse in 2010 and completed his specialist nursing qualification in intensive care in 2013. He is delighted to receive the Alum of the Year award.

  – It feels incredibly rewarding and honouring to be named Alum of the Year. It was not something I expected, so I was both pleased and surprised when I received the news, he says.