Critical perspectives in educational research (KUF)

The researchers in KUF are united in an interest in placing educational research in a societal perspective. This interest links to the history of the subject of education with a focus on educational processes as well as to the role of education in social development (education) and a sociological interest in socialization and identity-creating processes.

Another central interest of the research group is the conviction that educational research requires a critical analytical approach. By this we mean that educational research requires a critically reflexive approach to the issues studied in order to challenge, understand or explain the power structures that are inherited, shaped or created in various social phenomena, institutions or processes. We believe that educational research thus requires a pronounced critical analysis and distance in order to be able to identify different structures, systems, discourses and practices in order not to unconsciously confirm or establish these.

Our interest in upbringing, policy, socialization and identity processes encompasses many empirical areas of interest. In the research group, an operationalization of our critical approach has initially been applied to democracy issues, didactics, education for sustainable development, ethics and power, curriculum analysis and assessment practices.

We place great emphasis on uniting around deepening our critical scientific competence in various ways. The research group has discussions about texts that help us develop/deepen our knowledge. Furthermore, self-produced text for future publications is discussed. These discussions have the ambition to deepen our understanding of different perspectives on critical analysis. Another important area for the group is to find different forms of supporting elements for qualifications, co-writing, project applications, etc. Both PhDs and lecturers participate in the group. External monitoring of our research interests is an important area of activity for the group.

Eco-Democracy and Education

Eco-democracy is an interdisciplinary research network where researchers from different fields come together to explore the connection between eco-democracy and education from multiple perspectives. The network was launched in June 2025 with an initial symposium at Mid Sweden University in Östersund. The aim was to lay the foundations for collaboration and to initiate a special scientific edition on the subject.

Eco-Democracy and Education