The doctoral school for vocational didactics and the collaboration between schools, working life and teacher education (FYSALIS) aims to strengthen the scientific foundation of Sweden’s vocational teacher education programmes.

In a world marked by rapid societal, political, economic and technological change, vocational teachers and vocational teacher education must navigate complex societal challenges. These include, for example, climate change, threats to the resilience of democracy and the rule of law, social sustainability and gender equality, the digital transition, and artificial intelligence.

About the doctoral school

Against this backdrop, FYSALIS aims to explore vocational teaching and vocational learning in collaboration, based on three interconnected themes:

  • Vocational education from historical, societal and international perspectives (policy, governance, educational models)
  • Processes of socialisation and identity formation (vocational cultures, gender, class, ethnicity)
  • Vocational didactics and social practices for vocational teaching and learning (vocational knowledge, workplace-based learning, assessment)
  • The doctoral school is aligned with the field internationally referred to as Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Why is FYSALIS needed?

There is a severe shortage of vocational teachers in Sweden, and the need for research-based vocational didactic expertise within Swedish higher education institutions is considerable.

More than one in three upper-secondary students enrol in a vocational programme, and vocational education also plays a central role in adult education. Despite this, the field has received limited attention within Swedish educational research.

National collaboration for future vocational teachers

FYSALIS is led by Linnaeus University in collaboration with:

  • Stockholm University,
  • Umeå University,
  • Kristianstad University,
  • and Malmö University.

The research school is funded by the Swedish Research Council.

Contact at Malmö University