Two postgraduate research schools awarded funding
The Swedish Research Council has granted funding to two applications for postgraduate research schools in which Halmstad University is a partner. The decision makes it possible to continue developing the doctoral research environment within teacher education and the research programme LeaDS.
“It is fantastic that we may continue our long-standing and successful participation in national postgraduate research schools.”
Pernilla Nilsson, Professor
Since 2003, Halmstad University has taken part in several national postgraduate research schools, which have made it possible to build an established doctoral environment without its own degree-awarding powers.
Continuation of FontD
One of the applications now granted concerns the continuation of FontD – The Swedish National Graduate School of Science and Technology Education Research – in which the University has been active for many years. The coordinating higher education institution is Linköping University.
“FontD is very close to my heart as I was a PhD student there myself”, says Pernilla Nilsson, Project Manager and Scientific Leader of the postgraduate research schools.
GRAITE – postgraduate research school with a focus on AI
The second application concerns GRAITE – the Graduate School for AI and Teacher Education – which builds on the previous postgraduate research school UPGRADE. Nine higher education institutions with a strong profile in digitalisation are involved. The coordinating institution is Mid Sweden University.
“In GRAITE, we have strengthened the focus on how AI impacts teacher education and the teaching profession, especially from a subject-specific didactic perspective, which is an area that is becoming increasingly important for both schools and teacher education”, says Pernilla Nilsson.
Strengthened connection to research
Pernilla Nilsson.
Previous postgraduate research schools have allowed the University to have PhD students working in areas such as subject-specific didactics and digitalisation.
“The postgraduate research schools make it possible for the University to have PhD students within teacher education, even in the absence of our own degree-awarding powers. Having more PhD students in the LeaDS research programme is very positive, not least for the development of the research programmes and for enabling our senior researchers to contribute to doctoral activities”, says Pernilla Nilsson.
Pernilla Nilsson emphasises that research on digitalisation and AI in schools and education rests on a solid scientific foundation:
“It is sometimes claimed that digitalisation in schools lacks scientific support, but that is not the case. Through the postgraduate research schools in which we have participated, we have graduated many PhD students who have contributed valuable research in the field. There is a substantial scientific foundation to build on here.”
The Swedish Research Council’s initiative aims to reinforce the research dimension in teacher education and to increase capacity for doctoral-level training.
“It is fantastic that we may continue our long-standing and successful participation in national postgraduate research schools”, says Pernilla Nilsson.
In total, the Swedish Research Council is granting SEK 494 million to 12 postgraduate research schools in Sweden for the period 2025–2030.
More information
LeaDS – Learning in a Digitalised Society
