This department runs one of the country’s largest preschool teacher training programmes, as well as primary teacher training specialising in after-school recreation.

Education

The degree programmes at the Department of Children, Youth and Society deepen students’ understanding of children’s learning, with an emphasis on play, development and meaning-making.

The department collaborates with other higher education institutions, local authorities, independent preschools and after-school clubs through research projects and continuing professional development courses within the field of childhood studies and professional practice in preschools and after-school clubs.

Childhood and Learning

The specialisation Childhood and Learning involves the study of childhood and the learning and living conditions of younger children. One important element of the subject is preschool didactics with an emphasis on play, development and meaning-making, as well as the development of preschool learning environments. The preschool’s quality, pedagogical development and roots in an educational philosophical understanding of its activities and conditions are areas in which the department works, both in education and research.

Recreation Instructor

The primary teacher degree specialising in after-school recreation includes the advance course Recreation Instructor in combination with one of the following subjects: visual arts, sports and health or music.

Research

The department has a research profile that combines academic depth with close links to practice. The research is based partly on developing subject-specific knowledge within the perspectives that exist at BUS and in the study of issues at the intersection of childhood, education and society, and partly on being relevant to and having a close relationship with educational practice at all levels – including the programmes we ourselves offer at the department.

Researchers, publications and projects 

Research topics

Child and Youth Studies

Child and youth studies is an interdisciplinary field with a focus on childhood as both a period in life and as a social...

Pedagogy

Education/pedagogy concerns the study of pedagogical processes in different cultural and interpersonal contexts. The main objec...

The department's research groups

The research groups conduct both basic and applied research. They contribute to current research in teaching and in collaboration with external actors. The groups are active in national and international networks, conferences, and publication forums, discuss scientific texts, apply for research funding and support the group members' qualification processes and doctoral projects. The work is done through seminars and research days at the department.

Head of Research: Liselott Mariett Olsson

Collaboration

The department collaborates with other higher education institutions, municipalities, individual preschools and after-school centres through research projects and continued professional development, all within the framework of childhood studies and professional preschool teaching and recreation centres.

Contact us to collaborate with our students, doctoral students or researchers.

Related pages

Faculty of Education and Society

The Faculty of Education and Society offers professional training in the fields of schools, culture, leisure and sport. The...

Department of School Development and Leadership

The Department of School Development and Leadership takes a holistic view of issues related to learning, education and school...

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CAKL)

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CAKL) is a university-wide centre that offers education and carries out research within...