Teaching, research, and the work of building legal education programmes have been a common thread throughout Nick Dimitrievski’s years at Karlstad University. His pedagogical contributions are now being recognised through the distinction of Excellent Teacher in Law.

Nick Dimitrievski, what does being named an Excellent Teacher in Law mean to you?

– It is both gratifying and honouring, and I see it as recognition of long-term work in which teaching, research, and the development of legal education have been closely interconnected. Teaching is not an activity that exists alongside research; it is a central part of the academic mission. For me, it has been about combining subject expertise, pedagogical reflection, and a strong conviction that legal education should do more than simply convey knowledge of the law as it currently stands.

How can service research help address future challenges in AI, digitalisation, health, and the sustainability transition? On 22 October, the Service Research Center (CTF) at Karlstad University invites researchers, partners, alumni, and other interested guests to celebrate CTF's 40th anniversary and discuss the societal challenges of the future.

The anniversary event will offer reflections on four decades of research, perspectives from some of the people who have been part of the journey, and conversations about the issues shaping tomorrow's society.

40 years of research for a changing society

"When CTF was founded in 1986, service research was a relatively unexplored field. Early on, we recognised the need to understand the growing service economy and contribute new knowledge," says Bo Edvardsson, professor of Business Administration and one of CTF's founders.

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.

Many companies want to contribute to sustainable development, but their efforts often have limited impact.
– Many of the companies I studied focused, for example, on putting ‘recycled material’ on a package, says Kristin Caravelli-Svärd. Such an initiative is often very small in relation to the company’s actual impact.

In her dissertation, Un/sustainability: Why Business Sustainability Efforts Are Systemically Insufficient, Kristin Caravelli-Svärd, who recently earned her PhD in Business Administration at the School of Business and conducted research at the Service Research Center (CTF), demonstrates that many companies today actively address sustainability issues while environmental and social problems continue to worsen globally.

– Meeting others who conduct research in related fields and learning about regulatory frameworks in other countries is important for gaining new perspectives on Swedish law, says Germaine Hillerström from Karlstad Business School.

ISFL is a politically independent international organization that brings together researchers and university lecturers from more than 50 countries. In 2026, the World Conference was held in Istanbul, Turkey.

During the four-day conference, both Germaine Hillerström and Erika Sandström from the Law Department at the School of Business presented their research.

In an era marked by so-called polycrises, where climate change, energy challenges, economic uncertainty, and global conflicts influence and reinforce one another, societal resilience is becoming increasingly important. During A Sustainable Tomorrow, it was emphasized that resilience is not only about technology, stockpiles, and contingency plans.

Equally important is the ability of people and organizations to collaborate, share resources, and adapt their ways of working as circumstances change. The foundation of a resilient society is built in everyday life.