Studies in Educational Policy and Educational Philosophy (STEP)

Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt

The research group STEP – Studies in Educational Policy and Educational Philosophy – was established in 2000. STEP explores pedagogical, political and philosophical aspects of formal and informal education, such as socialization, civic education, bildung, knowledge, the role of school in society and the teaching profession.

Our research is grounded in internationally established curriculum and governance theories and includes institutional, comparative, historical and spatial analyses of different educational arenas and of the interaction between educational practice, policy and research. STEP gathers professors, associate professors, lecturers and doctoral students working at several universities (Uppsala, Örebro and Gävle), as well as a number of associate members from various universities and colleges in Sweden and in other countries (Norway, Austria, Japan).

STEP members teach in the subject of education at the first, second, and third cycles (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels), within independent courses and program courses (Master's Programme in Educational Sciences, Bachelor's Programme in Human Resource Management and Working Life; Bachelor's Programme in Education with a Focus on Children and Youth and Bachelor's Programme in Behavioural Sciences)

STEP members also teach first-cycle courses in the Teaching and Preschool Teaching study programmes, in the Study Programme for Principals, Special Needs Teacher courses, as well as courses for exchange students. In addition, STEP is involved in courses on educational leadership in the university.

Seminar

STEP seminars are usually held on Monday afternoons of even weeks in Blåsenhus.

The seminar includes presentations and discussion of texts, projects and ideas with theoretical, analytical and empirical relevance to our area of interest. We also invite guests who present their own research or act as external readers and commentators.

If you are conducting studies within STEP's fields of knowledge and are interested in participating in the seminar, please contact Henrik Román.

Networks

STEP engage in several international and national networks: Nordic Curriculum Theory Network, Nordic Network for Studies in Academic Development Activities and the national educational history network. STEP cooperates with many different research environments, such as CLEG (Curriculum Studies, Leadership and Educational Governance, UiO), SPLP (Studies in Professional Development, Learning and Policy), POP (Pedagogik och Politik, GU), ECE (KTH School of Education and Communication in Engineering Science, KTH), SEP (Studies in Educational Policy, HiG), Education and Democracy (OrU) and SITE (Studies in Curriculum theory and Educational reforms, LnU).

STEP cooperates with many different research environments, such as SEPP (Research Group for Studies in Education Policy and Education Practice, USN), CLEG (Curriculum Studies, Leadership and Educational Governance, UiO), SPLP (Studies in Professional Development, Learning and Policy), POP (Pedagogik och Politik, GU), ECE (KTH School of Education and Communication in Engineering Science, KTH), SEP (Studies in Educational Policy, HiG), Education and Democracy (OrU) and SITE (Studies in Curriculum theory and Educational reforms, LnU).