Sociology of Education

The majority of studies in Sociology of Education are based on two perspectives. Firstly, we explore educational strategies, i.e. how individuals and groups with different kinds of assets use the educational system. Secondly, we seek to understand the social world within which these strategies develop, i.e. the field of educational institutions. This field does not comprise academic institutions, schools and educational directions per se, but the system of relationships between and among them, the positions they adopt in relation to one another, and the historical development of those positions. A particular area of interest is the relationship between the "baggage" of pupils, students, and teachers (i.e. cultural capital and other assets) and the prevailing social and cultural order of the educational system. Another significant area of interest is the relationship between education and professional careers within distinct social fields, for example economic, political or cultural fields.

Networks and collaborations

• Swedish Higher Education as Research Object (HERO), directed by Mikael Börjesson.
• Transnational Capital and Transformation of the Elites. International network organised by SEC, Uppsala University, and Centre européen de sociologie et de science politique de la Sorbonne (CESSP-Paris), directed by Mikael Palme, Mikael Börjesson, Anne-Catherine Wagner & Bertrand Réau.

Seminars and other events

The Higher Seminar in Sociology of Education

The Higher Seminar in Sociology of Education series is a place for PhD students to present dissertation drafts as well as for master students in the Master's Programme in Sociology of Education to defend their theses.

Selected Wednesdays, generally scheduled at 13:15-15:00 in Tupprummet (14:340).
The seminar is coordinated by Håkan Forsberg.

The Sociology of Education Seminar

The Sociology of Education Seminar series is a place to present current research in Sociology of Education and research relevant to the this discipline. This seminar is open to researchers working in Sociology of Education at Uppsala University as well as to national and international guests.

Selected Wednesdays, generally scheduled at 13:15-15:00 in Tupprummet (14:340).
The seminar is coordinated by Håkan Forsberg.

Seminars and other events organised by the Sociology of Education and Culture (SEC) research group can be found here.

The Comenius Seminar

The Comenius Seminar series presents history of education research on different themes and eras by researchers from various institutions and academic disciplines.

Selected Tuesdays, generally scheduled at 15:15 - 17:00 in Tupprummet (14:340).
The seminar is coordinated by: Henrik Pålsson-Edgren