Study explores the benefits of school robots
The University of Gothenburg and the compulsory school administration in the City of Gothenburg are conducting a research study into how school robots are used to support pupils with problematic school absence. The study is also investigating whether the technology can be used to prevent absence.
Many Swedish municipalities currently use school robots, but there is a lack of scientific research into when and how they work best, and for which pupils.
In the City of Gothenburg, school robots are used for pupils who, for various reasons, are unable to attend school in person. A new project will investigate whether the robots can also help prevent problematic school absence. At the same time, the University of Gothenburg is launching a research study into how the robots are used, experienced and how well they work in different situations.
Different pupils, different needs
“The robot was originally developed for pupils who are unable to attend school because of illness. Today, it is also used by pupils who are at home for other reasons and have problematic school absence, for example due to social or psychological circumstances. In the research study, we want to investigate, among other things, how the robots are used in different situations, how they are experienced and how needs differ between different groups of pupils,” says Sofia Serholt, Docent in Applied Information Technology and Learning at the University of Gothenburg.
The compulsory school administration in the City of Gothenburg already has 25 school robots that are lent to pupils who are unable to attend school in person, for example because of illness or problematic school absence. Since January, a further 25 robots have been used to support pupils who are at risk of developing problematic absence.
Pupils interviewed
“At 15 schools, we are testing whether the robots can enable pupils to participate in lessons from another part of the school. The aim is to help pupils continue coming to school and participating in lessons,” says Anna-Carin Öhman, Head of Pupil Health Services at the compulsory school administration.
Together with researchers from the University of Gothenburg, the compulsory school administration wants to gain a better understanding of how the 50 school robots are used in practice and the role they may play in enabling pupils to participate in lessons.
“We are conducting the study by interviewing pupils who currently use or have previously used a school robot, as well as their parents or guardians and teachers. Teaching assistants who are present at school when a pupil uses the robot are also included. We are also mapping the use of school robots across the municipality to understand the circumstances in which they are introduced, how much they are actually used and what the outcomes are,” says Sofia Serholt.
The research study began in January 2026 and will run for one year.
Problematic school absence means extensive, repeated or prolonged absence from school that has a negative impact on a pupil’s academic progress or social development.
There is no nationally established threshold for when absence should be considered problematic. There can be many reasons for absence, and these vary between pupils. To understand the reasons, the school needs to investigate the pupil’s situation and, where necessary, provide support to increase attendance.