Johanna Köpsén

Associate Professor

PhD in Educational Research: Adult Learning with a background as strategist and
project manager in Higher Vocational Education. I’m interested in how curricula
and other documents are created, interpreted and applied in VET and education
for adults.

Research projects

A woman standing in front of a whiteboard.

Employers’ involvement in Higher Vocational Education and the local labour market’s skills supply

Higher Vocational Education was established in 2009 and since then it has grown and become an increasingly important source of skills supply. What makes employers get involved in programmes and what does their participation look like?

Teachers' interpretation and application of curriculum and other governing documents in municipal adult education

Teachers working in municipal adult education (MAE) have a variety of laws and steering documents to relate to in their work. This research project investigates how teachers interpret and apply them in their planning and teaching.

A group of people sitting at a table discussing.

Higher vocational education - educational policy and curriculum

What is the function of Swedish higher vocational education? How, and by who is it shaped? Whose knowledge counts and what values shape the educational communication?

Publications

2026

Andreas Ruschkowski, Johanna Köpsén, Andreas Fejes (2026)

50 years of evidence‑informed practice: Policy formation in Swedish adult education 1974-2024 International Journal of Lifelong Education (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2026.2712918

Johanna Köpsén, Karolina Muhrman (2026)

Vad är yrkeshögskolan? Om vuxenutbildning och vuxnas studier: en grundbok, p. 75-97 (Chapter in book)

Mattias Nylund, Per Andersson, Andreas Fejes, Johanna Köpsén (2026)

Teachers transformation of curricula in Swedish adult education and its implications for the purpose of education Journal of Curriculum Studies, Vol. 58, p. 654-675 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2025.2512583

Andreas Fejes, Per Andersson, Johanna Köpsén, Mattias Nylund (2026)

Adult education and teachers' work under a market code Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 70, p. 101-115 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2025.2459903

2025

Maja Nordström, Marie Wadstedt, Johanna Köpsén (2025)

Skönlitteratur på yrkesutbildning: en väg till språk, yrkesidentitet och breddade perspektiv Skönlitteratur i andraspråksundervisningen: Symposium 2025, p. 235-248 (Chapter in book)

CV

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Research: Adult Learning, 2020

Master degree in Social and Cultural Analysis, 2009

Sociology, 2005

Commissions

Faculty programme director, Programme for Vocational Teacher Education

Member of the board, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning

Associate Editor, Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (NJVET)

Conference administrator, NordYrk 2021, 2022

Editorial Assistant, Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (NJVET) 2016-2021

Conference administrator, 3rd International ProPEL Conference 2017

PhD-student representative on the board, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning 2017-2020

Work

Educational strategist, Analyst and Project manager, East Sweden Higher Vocational School, 2011-2016

Board member and Secretary, The Association of Higher Vocational Schools, 2013 – 2015

Analyst, County Administrative Board, 2010 – 2011

Organisation

Three people disussing. They are at a warehouse.

Division of Education and Sociology (APS)

Sustainable work and working life is the focus of the division’s research and education covering both pedagogy and sociology. Current research projects concern learning, leadership, equality, health and working conditions.

Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL)

Human behaviour and learning is the focus for education and research at the department. We educate students and scientists that are well equipped to meet future challenges in society and working life.