Higher Education’s Contribution to Democracy

Research within the first focus area is based on an understanding how and under what conditions higher education contributes to a democratic society. This builds on assumptions, often heard in the debate, that higher education helps to educate democratic citizens, provides them with the knowledge and skills to contribute to democratic societal systems, and that higher education institutions provide arenas and places - as well as setting norms - for democratic dialogue.In this way, higher education is expected to stand for knowledge, critical thinking, and objectivity, while also representing broader democratic values such as openness, inclusiveness, freedom and respect for human rights. In the programme's research we focus on three aspects of this discussion.

Direction 1: Higher Education and the Democratic Citizen

A fundamental research question in this direction is what higher education contributes, or does not contribute, to the formation of democratic citizens. Research across disciplines examines how and to what extent higher education fosters democratic skills, knowledge, and values, as well as networks, positions, and elite formation in society. This includes insights into how these contributions vary across educational programs, social groups, and forms of education.

Direction 2: Universities, Education, and Democratic Participation

A related question concerns the role of higher education in creating the conditions for democratic participation. Who is given access to higher education, has this changed over time, and how do developments affect democratic participation in society at large? It explores broader changes in society (e.g. secularisation, changing demographics) as well as changing demands on higher education (e.g. broader recruitment, diversity, labour market adaptation) and how this affects the role of universities for democratic participation. This includes research on migration, integration, labour market and citizenship, as well as on broader issues of discrimination, racism and other barriers to democratic participation.

Direction 3: Education, Knowledge, and Bildung in Democratic Discourse

The question here concerns the role of universities in creating arenas and rules for democratic dialogue, and how universities collaborate with other actors and arenas in society. What are the risks to democratic dialogue today and how does it affect the activities of universities? In this direction, the role and relationship of universities to literature, art and culture is studied, as well as issues relating to collaboration and the practices of democratic dialogue. There is an explicit ambition to engage the specific knowledge of the aesthetic sciences and to increase understanding of broader educational processes in society and the role of higher