Honorary doctor with a focus on learning that changes societies
Professor Annalisa Sannino at Tampere University in Finland has been appointed honorary doctor 2026 at the Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg. Her research focuses on learning, collective agency and processes of change, and she is recognised for her contributions to the faculty’s research, doctoral education and international collaboration.
Annalisa Sannino leads the research collective RESET, Research Engagement for Sustainable and Equitable Transformations, which she founded in 2018 at Tampere University. RESET develops conceptual tools and interventionist methods based on cultural-historical activity theory, CHAT, to contribute to participatory analyses of major societal challenges.
Her research concerns, among other things, collective transformative agency, expansive learning and how knowledge about learning can contribute to equity and sustainability. In recent years, her work has focused particularly on urban vulnerabilities, poverty and homelessness.
Strong research collaborations
For several years, Annalisa Sannino has had a clear connection to research environments at the Faculty of Education. She has established strong collaborations with researchers in several research environments at the Department of Education and Special Education.
Her engagement has led, among other things, to joint publications, research development and international networking. She has also contributed to practice-oriented doctoral courses and advanced seminars at the faculty.
Contributes to international networks
An important part of Annalisa Sannino’s work is her ability to build international research communities. She has been elected President of the International Society for Cultural-historical Activity Research, ISCAR, for the period 2024–2027, and is also coordinator of ISCAR’s Nordic-Baltic region.
At the Faculty of Education, she has inspired many members of staff to take part in the international CHAT community, as well as in digital seminars and a MOOC course organised for doctoral students and senior researchers.
As honorary doctor, Annalisa Sannino is expected to be a valuable long-term resource for the faculty, not least by helping younger researchers develop international networks that strengthen their future careers. Her research and collaborations are particularly relevant to issues concerning learning, agency and transformative practice in educational and professional contexts.
Through her solid leadership and broad international network, Professor Sannino has provided inspiration for organisational development in research and educational activities at the Faculty of Education. With the help of theoretical frameworks, she has contributed to practice-oriented doctoral courses and advanced seminars at the faculty, and her engagement has resulted in joint publications, research development and international networking.
Professor Sannino has established strong collaborations with researchers in several research environments at the Department of Education and Special Education, and she has inspired many members of staff to join the international CHAT community and to participate in ongoing digital seminars and in a MOOC course organised for doctoral students and senior researchers.
Professor Sannino has a clear connection to research environments at the faculty and, as honorary doctor at the faculty, she would constitute a valuable long-term resource in strengthening younger researchers in the development of productive international networks that can promote their future careers. Her future work will inspire faculty staff to promote research on learning, agency and transformative practice in educational and professional contexts. By combining theoretical depth with a strong ability to build international research communities, Professor Sannino is a worthy honorary doctor who will be able to contribute in the long term to research and development projects together with researchers at the faculty.