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• 2026-04-15

  Spring Meeting of the EXACT Research School

  On April 14–15, the EXACT research school held its spring meeting, an opportunity for doctoral students and partner companies to exchange knowledge and experiences. Day one focused on leadership and entrepreneurship, while day two centered on the doctoral projects and the participating companies.

  Bernt Svensson, former Head of Products at Absolent prior to his retirement and a member of the EXACT board, gave a lecture on leadership and the difference between a leadership role and an expert role. The doctoral students reflected on these different roles and shared their concerns, including workload and relationships with colleagues, which make many hesitant to take on a leadership position. A survey by the trade union Ledarna on young managers highlights the same issue: many people aged 18–35 do not want to become managers, for the same reasons expressed by the doctoral students.

• 2026-04-13

  Major investment in school teaching

  Karlstad University and the University of Gothenburg are proposed to receive SEK 37.5 million from the Swedish Research Council within the strategic research area Excellence in School. The initiative is one of the largest in Sweden in practice-oriented school research. Its purpose is to develop teaching with the aim of improving student outcomes and increasing equitable learning.

  “It is incredibly exciting and a great honor, and a strong recognition of the expertise within the subject-didactic research environment at Karlstad University,” says Christina Olin-Scheller, professor of Comparative literature in Education and professor in Pedagogical Work at Karlstad University. “It is significant for our institution and especially important for teacher education, which is the foundation of this initiative.

• 2026-04-09

  From Bangladesh and Zambia to student life – and “fika” – in Karlstad

  What is it like to move across the world to study in Sweden? Two international programme students at Karlstad University share their experiences of studying, adapting to a new culture and discovering Swedish traditions – from ice hockey to Lucia.

  Every year, students from all over the world come to Karlstad University to begin a new chapter in their lives. For many of them, studying abroad is not only about education, but also about discovering a new culture, new people and a different way of life. Two of those students are Jannatul Yea, known as Jannat, from Bangladesh, and Bwalya Kabwe from Zambia. 

• 2026-04-02

  The athletics arena is student Melwin Lycke Holm’s living room

  High jumper Melwin Lycke Holm, 21, grew up in Karlstad. From an early age he was strongly influenced by his father, the Olympic champion in high jump, Stefan Holm. As a multiple junior champion, both nationally and internationally, Melwin is now taking the final step into senior-level competition after this year’s outdoor season. At the same time, he is studying sports science at Karlstad University as part of the Elite Sports University programme and plans to graduate next spring.

  When did you yourself become interested in high jump, and when did you decide to pursue your sport at an elite level?

• 2026-04-01

  New insights into hornification could strengthen the future of paper production

  When paper dries and is subsequently rewetted, its properties change permanently. This phenomenon is known as hornification. New research now shows that the process is more complex than previously assumed, and that temperature, humidity, and fibre type all play decisive roles.

  Hornification means that fibres in paper products lose some of their ability to absorb water. This has major implications for everything from paper manufacturing to recycling, where controlling the material’s strength and durability is crucial.

  “Fundamentally, hornification is more about removing water than adding heat, and this means that we can actually control the material’s properties and avoid unnecessary strength losses,” says Björn Sjöstrand, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and project leader for the research project.

• 2026-03-31

  How gender equality work is experienced at work – new study highlights the role of emotions

  How is gender equality work experienced in the workplace – as a shared exploratory journey or as a top‑down verdict? This is what Maja Herstad, doctoral student in sociology at Karlstad University, has investigated. The results show that emotions play a far greater role in this change process than many might assume.

  “Emotions are central to gender equality work because they are linked to how we understand our position in a hierarchy and how we make sense of experiences. They influence whether we take action or withdraw,” says Maja Herstad. “Issues related to gender, status and resource distribution can trigger feelings such as irritation, guilt or shame – and these emotions can both drive and hinder change.”