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• 2026-02-10

  Teacher Education Student Aiming for the Top of the World in Speed Skiing

  Cornelia Thun Sandström is studying to become a teacher at Karlstad University while simultaneously belonging to the world elite in speed skiing. Her everyday life is about balancing studies, training, and mental preparation—and about finding sustainable motivation in both worlds.
  – Having the opportunity to be part of the Elite Sports University has been incredibly important to me. I don’t think it would have been possible to study at the same time otherwise, she say

  Cornelia grew up in Kil and now lives in Karlstad, but still competes for her home club. At the same time, she is in her sixth semester of the teacher education program with a focus on grades F–3 at Karlstad University and is part of the university’s Elite Sports University.

• 2026-02-09

  The unexpected gift that makes customers buy more – and come back

  Small spontaneous gifts with no expectations of something in return can influence both purchasing behavior and customer relationships in powerful ways. Amie Gustafsson, PhD in Business Administration at Karlstad Business School and researcher at the Service Research Center (CTF), has had her work published in the prestigious Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.

  Amie Gustafsson, what might such a gift consist of, and when is it given to the consumer?

  – It’s about small, unexpected gifts that are given without requiring anything in return. It might be a free accessory with a purchase, an extra product in the delivery, a gift when the customer walks into the store, or something included with their first online order. The important thing is that it’s not perceived as a reward that needs to be earned. We tested this with, for example, packages of coffee and chocolate.

• 2026-02-06

  New study provides unique insight into the work of registered nurses and nursing assistants in home healthcare

  A new study offers an in-depth and uncommon insight into how registered nurses and nursing assistants work with fundamental care for older people within municipal home healthcare services. The study shows that care work is significantly more complex and multifaceted than what is often reflected in guidelines, schedules, and care plans.

  “The study shows that everyday conditions have a major impact on care quality, and that fundamental care is more complex than what is often made visible in governing documents,” says Karin Sandberg, doctoral student in nursing at Karlstad University and one of the researchers behind the study.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.