The Phenomenography and Variation Theory Global Network
The Phenomenography and Variation Theory Global Network is an independent, international scholarly community bringing together researchers working within, alongside, and informed by phenomenography and variation theory. The network supports dialogue, theoretical development, and research collaboration across countries, disciplines, and educational contexts, grounded in relational perspectives on learning, knowledge, and experience.
More information about the network
The network is committed to fostering knowledge exchange, supporting doctoral and early-career researchers, and enabling opportunities for international collaboration, including network meetings, seminars, and research-focused conversations. Building on a long-standing research tradition, the Global Network provides an open and collegial space for sustained engagement with theory, methodology, and practice.
Who is the Network for?
The network welcomes:
- Academic researchers and professors working within phenomenographic and variation theory traditions.
- Postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, and early-career scholars seeking theoretical grounding, scholarly dialogue, and international connections.
- Researchers working across disciplines and contexts, including education, psychology, professional learning, health, higher education, and related fields.
- Research-engaged education practitioners, including teachers, teacher educators, and school-based researchers, who work with variation theory, lesson study, learning study, and related approaches, and who are interested in dialogue between theory and practice.
- Scholars exploring phenomenography or variation theory in relation to other theoretical or methodological traditions, where there is a clear engagement with relational perspectives on learning and knowledge.
Mission statement
The Phenomenography and Variation Theory Global Network brings together researchers whose interests lie in learning, teaching, educational planning, and related areas across diverse contexts and disciplines internationally.
The particular perspective developed within the network focuses on a relational approach to knowledge formation, with an emphasis on qualitatively different conceptions of a subject matter and the agency of the learner. Research grounded in phenomenography has provided descriptions and explanations of how individuals relate to the surrounding world, generating important knowledge concerning the relationship between learner agency and the situation. Knowledge originating from phenomenography and variation theory has formed the basis for further description and explanation of this relationship across a range of research fields, including the development and refinement of research methods.
The Global Network seeks to support the continued evolution of this body of work through international collaboration, critical dialogue, and engagement across theoretical, methodological, and applied research traditions.
Contact
The network is coordinated by a small international group of researchers who support it’s development and organisation. The coordinators can be contacted regarding general enquiries, correspondence, network activities, and opportunities for involvement. For any questions or to get in touch, please contact one of the network coordinators.
Angelika Kullberg
University of Gothenburg,
E-mail: angelika.kullberg@gu.se
Pernilla Mårtensson
University of Gothenburg
E-mail: pernilla.aartensson@gu.se
Malin Tväråna
Uppsala University
E-mail: malin.tvarana@edu.uu.se
Tanya Hathaway
Unicaf University
E-mail: t.hathaway@faculty.unicaf.org
William Zoppellini
Independent researcher
E-mail: will@coffeeandtheory.com
Want to contribute?
The network is also actively seeking additional coordinators to support different areas of activity, including international liaison, early-career support, events, and communications. If you are interested in contributing to the development of the network, please reach out to one of the coordinators.
News and current events
The Phenomenography & Variation Theory Global Network will share updates here on upcoming activities, events, and opportunities for engagement across the network.
Upcoming Conference (2026)
The network plans to convene an international research conference in 2026. Further details regarding the dates, format, location, and themes of the conference will be announced in due course. The conference is intended to provide space for:
- Scholarly dialogue around phenomenography and variation theory
- Exchange across international and interdisciplinary context
- Support for doctoral and early-career researchers
- Discussion of theory, methodology, and theory-in-practice
More information, including a call for interest, will be shared once planning is underway.
Network Activities
In addition to the planned conference, the network will host and support a range of activities, which may include online seminars, network meetings, and opportunities for collaboration. Updates and invitations will be shared through the website and via network communications.