Higher Education Organization Studies (HEOS)

Higher Education Organisation Studies is an interdisciplinary group studying the preconditions for education and learning as well as other academic activities. The topics include but are not limited to higher education and research policy development and implementation; institutional governance; organisational change, identity and culture; life and work in academia; academic leadership and management; higher education institutions’ relations to state, society and external stakeholders.

Current projects

APIKS, the Academic Profession in the Knowledge Based Society

Towards the Responsible University (Vetenskapsrådet NOS-HS)

CHEPIS , together with University of Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique and University of Western Cape, South Africa (SIDA)

Completed projects

Effects of changes in leadership and management structures in Nordic higher education

INGDIVS , Increasing Gender Diversity in STEM (EU Erasmus mundus)

StARS , Strategic Action and Response Strategies in a Changing Swedish Higher Education Landscape (Riksbankens jubileumsfond)

PERFA , Performance-based governance in academia: professional practices and identities in transformation (Riksbankens jubileumsfond, Vetenskapsrådet, Forte and Formas)

HEOS research group

The group started its work in 2012 and has since developed and concluded a large number of research projects, including both empirical and theoretical studies. The group has strong national and international networks and several ongoing projects together with colleagues from other higher education institutions. We also have ongoing collaborations with scholars from other parts of KTH. Our goal is to be internationally recognized and locally embedded.

Interdisciplinary competence

We are interdisciplinary also in the sense that our disciplinary backgrounds differ. Whereas some hold engineering degrees, others have a background in social science disciplines such as political science, education, behavioral sciences and history. Another feature of the group is that many of the members have a professional background in the higher education and research sector. Theories and concepts from a large array of traditions are employed, including organizational theory, sociology, education, and political science.[1] Methods often include interviews, documentary/archival studies, surveys and observations. Another common feature is a comparative approach: internationally, over time, across scientific fields and institutional types, educational levels and sectors.

Accessible knowledge

The research is typically published in international journals and books. We also disseminate our research in periodicals, blogs, newspapers and magazines. We participate in and organise national and international conferences and other scientific meetings. Many of our findings have been presented to and influenced stakeholders, policy makers and academic leaders internationally, nationally and at KTH.