Gifted education research project

Gifted education supports teachers to understand and meet the needs of children and students who have abilities and potential beyond their typical age peers, and to adapt classroom programmes. In a Swedish context, gifted education can be considered in terms of improving educational equity, special educational needs provisions, and inclusive education in European countries in the project Strength through Diversity (OECD, 2021). Negative effects from lack of support can persist into adulthood (Stålnacke & Smedler, 2011), for example underachievement may occur when gifted or highly able students are not offered adequate and adapted educational experiences (Steenbergen-Hu, et al., 2020). Reports from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate ask for more effective educational provisions to stimulate students that easily reach the curriculum goals (Swedish Schools Inspectorate, 2014). UBB researcher Valerie Margrain leads two funded projects in gifted education.

GiftED doctoral programme (forskarskola) (2021-26)

The doctoral programme supports 10 doctoral students in gifted education. These doctoral students take up research on various aspects of gifted education: identification, differentiation, curriculum studies, leadership, mental health of gifted students and twice-exceptionality (2e). The doctoral students follow course requirements for pedagogical work (KAU, 6 doctoral students), special education (SU, 2 doktoral students), and didactics (MDU, 2 doctoral students). Within the doctoral programme three doctoral courses are developed, and open to other doctoral students outside GiftED: covering definitions, theories and concepts, didactics and classroom differentiation, and mental health of gifted students. Many of the doctoral students teach in education courses at their respective universities and spread their gifted education knowledge to networks in their various fields on study and wider networks. International networking is a strong aspect of the doctoral programme.

Project leader: Professor Valerie Margrain (UBB researcher) - link to profile page

Collaboration: Karlstad University (lead), Stockholm University & Mälardalen University.

Project duration: funded July 2021 to December 2026.

Project financing: The Swedish Research Council – Vetenskapsrådet. 39.5 million sek.

Project website:https://www.kau.se/en/gifteddp

Nordic Network for Gifted Education (NNGE) (2022-4)

The Nordic Network for Gifted Education (NNGE) aims to connect all those interested in gifted education across the Nordic countries. From a small group of approximately five people meeting in 2019, the network now has around 140 members. We meet 2-3 times per semester online. Funding has enabled the following research activities: large kick-off network meeting with around 40 Nordic gifted education researchers 2022; support for nearly 30 Nordic researchers to travel and initiate/develop gifted education research networking or collaborations 2023; support for Nordic gifted education conference presentations and publications 2022-4; contribution to gifted education conference in Sweden June 2025.

Project leader: Professor Valerie Margrain (UBB researcher) - link to profile page

Collaboration: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and international.

Project financing: The Swedish Research Council – Vetenskapsrådet. 1.2 million sek.

Project website: https://www.kau.se/en/giftednetwork