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2026-02-04
Leave No Scale Behind: New Framework Supports Sustainability Transformation at Every Level
A new scientific publication led by Karlstad University climate researcher Avit Bhowmik presents a pluralistic framework designed to guide policy action and grassroots sustainability transformations across all scales—from local communities to global initiatives.
The UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development offers a shared blueprint for progress, built around the core promise to “leave no one behind.” Yet despite their importance, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain global, ambitious, and often difficult to apply in specific local contexts.
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2026-02-04
Hotspot 2026 Is Just Around the Corner
It is almost time for this year’s edition of Hotspot – the 29th in order. For one full day, Karlstad University will be transformed into a vibrant hub for exhibitors, students, and staff eager to network and showcase themselves. Here is what you need to know about the event.
Hotspot is an annual career fair organised by a project group of around twenty students at Karlstad University, led by project manager Erica Jansson. This year’s fair will take place on Wednesday, 11 February, and will be open to visitors between 9:30 and 15:00.
Ahead of this year’s event, 118 exhibitors have registered to participate, and the project group estimates that around 8,000 visitors will attend during the day – clear signs of very high interest.
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2026-02-03
Connection Between Reduced Working Hours, Improved Health, and Increased Work Ability
Working less can make people healthier – and also more creative and more productive. New research shows that a reduction in working hours can be associated with improved work ability, lower stress levels, and organizational behavioral changes.
Which results would you say are the most important in your research?
– We see strong results regarding health, says Lena Lid Falkman. But equally important are the results on increased work ability and problem‑solving capacity. Not only do employees feel better after a period of shorter working hours, but they also work better. And on top of that, they are happier.
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2026-01-28
Why Does It Matter How Principals Develop Their Professional Competence?
Principals play a key role in the development of schools. They lead the work, organize teachers’ professional development, and drive improvement efforts. But what does the professional learning of principals themselves actually look like? Existing research is limited and focuses mainly on principals’ participation in formal training programs. A new study has shifted the spotlight toward principals’ learning as change in and for practice.
Current research often points to the same challenges—lack of time, and the fact that the courses principals attend rarely lead to meaningful change in their daily work. This dissertation aims to redirect the focus. Instead of viewing learning as something that happens only inside an individual’s mind, the study takes a practice-based perspective: learning is about changing how one actually works.
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2026-01-23
App May Reduce Fear of Childbirth Among First-Time Mothers
New research from Karlstad University shows that the effect is particularly noticeable among women who already during pregnancy experience strong anxiety about giving birth.
Expecting a first child can bring both anticipation and worry. Thoughts about pain, loss of control, and the unknown are, for many expectant mothers, a source of stress. Now, research from Karlstad University and Region Värmland shows that a digital support tool in the form of an app can make a difference, especially for first-time mothers who feel a pronounced fear of childbirth.
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2026-01-22
Karlstad University is granted SEK 200,000 for a project supporting Ukraine
The Swedish Institute has granted funding for an educational package focused on inclusive vocational training for people with disabilities in Ukraine.
– We aim to formalize the collaboration between Karlstad University and NTU, the National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, says Jesper Haglund, Senior Lecturer in Physics Education. The need to develop inclusive vocational education for people with disabilities has been identified. Karlstad University has expertise in vocational education, mechanical engineering, and plastic injection molding. Ukrainian stakeholders in the project include non-governmental organizations and industries that may serve as future employers for participating students.
