Doctoral Studies: The research on arts education
Research on arts education has a focus primarily on didactic, as well as political, structural and institutional issues in preschool, school or upper secondary school aesthetic activities.
We have a vibrant and very active culture of research on arts education, with licentiate and doctoral researchers attached to two platforms CUL and FoBoS. Research on arts education has a focus primarily on didactic, as well as political, structural and institutional issues in preschool, school and/or upper secondary school aesthetic activities. The research concerns both media-specific teaching in the aesthetic subjects of art and crafts and media-neutral aesthetic activities. Doctoral education in the subject aims to provide an all-round scientific education, that also provides good preparation for tasks in society where knowledge of aesthetic forms of expression with a focus on educational science is of value.
The aim of our doctoral programmes is to train researchers, with a focus on the independent and critical creation of knowledge in the field, covering both breadth and depth, practice and theory. We understand the PhD as an entry level training for professional researchers intending to work in academic and/or non-academic settings. While carefully supporting the individual development of each PhD student, we place special emphasis on the collaborative and collective aspects of research and the importance of communities of practice. Broadly speaking, we believe that learning to do research involves a deepening process of participation in one or more communities of practice. Doctoral positions are limited to fully funded employment positions and are advertised on a regular basis. It is not possible to apply for doctoral studies with us unless there is an open call for applications.
Research Schools
All doctoral students are linked to a research school with shared courses and seminars: in Artistic Practice, the department runs the artistic research school together with the Academy of Music and Drama (our sister institution within the faculty), with four basic courses, symposia and workshops. Within Research on Arts Education, there are two research schools, CUL (Center for Educational Science and Learning) at the University of Gothenburg, and FoBoS, a national research school with support from the Swedish Research Council, for doctoral students in visual art education and sloyd education.
Research groups
Doctoral students are invited to join at least one of the research groups active within HDK-Valand. These groups are currently organised under the following headings:
- Politics, Practices and Publics
- Environment: Ecological and Climate Challenges
- Economies: Organizing, Valuating and Working
- Materialities and experimental aesthetics
PhD students
Research milieu
Doctoral studies at HDK-Valand is an integral part of the organisation’s mission in education, research and engagement with wider society. Doctoral researchers are typically based on one of the HDK-Valand campus sites, where they are valued colleagues within our community of students, practitioners, educators, researchers, and administrators.
HDK-Valand has been providing doctoral level studies since the beginning of the century, and have graduated approximately 50 PhDs since the first completion in an artistic subject in 2006 with Kim Jeoung-Ah's work on "Paper-Composite Porcelain: Characterisation of Material Properties and Workability from a Ceramic Art and Design Perspective."