Department of Culture and Society (IKOS)

At IKOS, the social sciences and humanities unite in environments where research and education work together.

The Department of Culture and Society (IKOS) conducts education and research in various humanities, social sciences and aesthetic subjects, often in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary environments where language, culture and society are at the center.

IKOS strives to strengthen the role of the social science and humanities in society and we see collaboration between education, research and the outside world as a prerequisite for success.

The department is located in both Linköping and Norrköping.

News

A men and his reflecetion near a brick wall.

Lubunca – a powerful language of hidden words

What can a hidden language tell us about freedom, identity and survival? By studying Lubunca, Burak Alp Çakar explores the emancipatory power of words and how they can empower, protect and keep communities alive.

Researchers highlight "small data" as key to responsible AI

AI development relies on vast amounts of data. Researchers are questioning if “big data” is enough to build ethical and reliable systems. Attention is shifting to “small data” – smaller, richer, and more controlled datasets that offer new insights.

A blue ocean with yellow stars in the water.

New EU return policy has a deterrent precursor

A new regulation allowing migrants to be detained outside the EU is on the way to being adopted. “I would have expected that Europe, looking to Australia, would say we should never go down this path,” says Claudia Tazreiter, a professor at REMESO.

IKOS Calendar

Research

IKOS Research

At IKOS the research focus is on the humanities and social sciences, language, culture and society.

IKOS research is often conducted on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary lines, researchers from different disciplines are working together in different research environments.

Go to the environments’ websites to see which researchers and research groups are part of each environment. You can also explore ongoing activities and research projects.

IKOS also offer doctoral studies, courses and graduate schools.

Professors installed at IKOS

Do you want to know more about LiU:s research in the humanities and social sciences? Here are the new professors at IKOS presented. You are welcome to attend the next inaugural lecture, and to read about the research in the IKOS publication series.

Collage with two black-and-white photos. On the left, Tage Danielsson in a tuxedo smiling at the camera. On the right, Moa Martinson at her desk with a pen in hand.

Professorships in the humanities and social sciences

The Moa Martinson and Tage Danielsson professorships at Linköping University are intended for researchers in the humanities and social sciences, or those productive in the arts.

Research Environments

The Ageing and Social Change research environment

The Ageing and Social Change research environment conducts leading-edge research on key social, political and cultural issues of ageing.

Research at the Centre for Local Government Studies

At CKS, we conduct research and collaboration aimed at supporting municipalities in their strategic decision-making. Our connection to the municipal sphere through our partner municipalities is the cornerstone of our work.

Culture and society (Tema Q)

Tema Q/Culture and Society research environment is an interdisciplinary unit that seeks to foster a critical outlook on the multiple roles played by culture in society, in the present as well as in the past.

Doctoral programmes

The Doctoral Programme in Ethnic and Migration Studies

The doctoral programme offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary research education in ethnic and migration studies.

PhD Studies in Philosophy

The Division of Philosophy and Applied Ethics (FTE) is an internationally, interdisciplinary center for cutting-edge research, with strengths in philosophy of science, phenomenology, normative and applied ethics, metaethics, and political philosophy.

Doctoral studies in Culture and Society

The Culture and Society research environment has since the autumn term of 2002 offered research education of duration four years, leading to a doctoral degree (240 credits), or two years, leading to a licentiate degree (120 credits).

The Doctoral Programme in Social Work

The doctoral programme in social work aims to give students in-depth knowledge in social work and allow them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to independently carry out research in this area.

Doctoral Studies in Language and Culture

Doctoral studies in language and culture are multi- and interdisciplinary. Our doctoral students have typically studied modern foreign languages, Swedish, Swedish as a second language, general linguistics or comparative literature.

The Doctoral Programme in Welfare Law

The doctoral programme in welfare law is focused on the contents and function of the judicial system in order to construct and maintain welfare that respect fundamental values such as the rule of law, equality, and the integrity of the individual.

Graduate School and Courses

The Swedish Research Council’s Graduate School in Migration and Integration

The graduate school provide PhD students with advanced teaching, research training and networking opportunities. It aspires to create a unique intellectual milieu for PhD students who write their dissertations on migration and integration.

PhD courses

Linköping University offers third-cycle courses for PhD students. On Forskarstudieinfo, you will find LiU’s current courses and syllabuses at doctoral level.

Courses within the doctoral programmes at the Department of Culture and Society

The Department of Culture and Society offers a variety of graduate courses within the humanities and social sciences. The courses are offered to doctoral students at Linköping University and other institutions of higher education.

Education

Blurry people walking in terminal-like hall

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, 120 credits

Let’s build a sustainable society for an ageing population. A population that lives longer presents global challenges and opportunities that affect every aspect of our lives such as welfare, the environment, health, finance, housing, and employment.

Ethics, Science, and Policy - Master's Programme, 120 credits

Learn how to evaluate and develop policies for some of the most pressing issues in society! You study and practice ethics and philosophy of science to influence and develop policy on education, healthcare, risk management, finance and research.

Ethnic and Migration Studies, Master's Programme, 120 credits

Learn to analyse the causes of migration, and consequences for formations of race, gender, labor, citizenship, healthcare, welfare and culture. Relates ethnicity and migration to economic and cultural change, to systems of domination and resistance.

Contact us

Department management

Lars Jämterud

Head of Department, Lecturer

Veronika Wallroth

Deputy Head of Department, Associate Professor, Docent

Leelo Keevallik

Deputy Head of Department, Professor

Petra Winsa

Head of Administration, Head of Division

Staff

Associate Professor, Docent

Ann Bergstrand Tybåhl

Adjunct Assistant Lecturer

Senior Associate Professor

Senior Associate Professor

Carl-Magnus Carlstein

Senior Associate Professor

Sofie Ekman

Coordinator

Emma Eldelin

Senior Associate Professor

Nicolina Ewards Öberg

Senior Research Coordinator

Associate Professor, Docent

Senior Associate Professor

Senior Associate Professor

Sofie Gustafsson

Administrator

Erik Gustavsson

Associate Professor, Docent

Marie Gustavsson

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Axel Göransson Tegnered

Associate Professor, Docent

Associate Professor, Docent

Lena Hollstenius

PhD student

Peter Holmqvist

Associate Professor, Head of Unit

Associate Professor, Docent

Sabina Ivenäs Dyverfeldt

Elise Johansson Jansson

Senior Associate Professor

Communications Officer

Professor, Head of Division

Kristoffer Jutvik

Associate Professor

Lars Jämterud

Head of Department, Lecturer

Deputy Head of Department, Professor

Susanne Kelfve

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Division

Associate Professor, Head of Division, Docent

Senior Associate Professor

Pontus Larsen

Ann-Christine Larsson

Senior Associate Professor

Associate Professor, Docent

Senior Associate Professor

Bengt-Göran Martinsson

Communications Officer

Andreas Motel-Klingebiel

Senior Associate Professor

Associate Professor, Docent

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Associate Professor, Docent

Karin Osvaldsson Cromdal

Senior Associate Professor

Sara Peltokangas Wilzén

Associate Professor, Docent

Minna Persson

Research Assistant

Jessica Petersson Berge

Communications Officer

Birgitte Saxtrup Hermansson

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Jessica Sjöholm Skrubbe

Professor

Stina-Karin Skillermark

Associate Professor

Tuva Skjelbred Nodeland

Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert

Senior Associate Professor

Gary Svensson

Senior Associate Professor

Lars-Håkan Svensson

Professor Emeritus

Christian Svensson Limsjö

Adjunct Associate Professor, Docent

Annika Taghizadeh Larsson

Senior Associate Professor

Louise Thorén Lagerlöf

Adjunct Assistant Lecturer

Associate Professor, Docent

Susanne Wallman Lundåsen

Senior Associate Professor

Veronika Wallroth

Deputy Head of Department, Associate Professor, Docent

Lecturer, Head of Unit

Tomas Widholm

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Adjunct Assistant Lecturer

Julia Willén

Lecturer

Harald Wiltsche

Professor, Head of Division

Petra Winsa

Head of Administration, Head of Division

Helen Winzell

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Senior Associate Professor

Therese Örnberg Berglund

Associate Professor, Head of Division

Gülin Öylü

Assistant Professor

The institutional board at IKOS

The institutional board is the highest decision-making body at IKOS. The board has overall responsibility for the department's undergraduate and graduate education and research.

Department of Culture and Society (IKOS)

News

Lubunca – a powerful language of hidden words

Researchers highlight "small data" as key to responsible AI

New EU return policy has a deterrent precursor

Future visions for sustainable food consumption

The battle for power – who has the right to our electricity?

LiU strengthens Sweden’s international standing in the humanities

Lawyer Johan Höök appointed guest professor in Moa Martinson’s name

David Livingstone Smith will be guest professor at LiU

Brave Magnus has no beard

New insights aided recovery from persistent fatigue

Kick Off for RELATE – a research center for sustainable and extended working lives

Migrants will be the purveyors of change

American poets society

25 years with Language and Culture – Nigel Musk was there from the start

New research centre meets challenge of longer working lives

Solidarity under pressure – lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Language Workshops – linguistic support that makes a difference

SEK 50 million from the Swedish Research Council to LiU

Young researchers receive millions in scholarships

Space is not just technology, also a place for culture and ethics

SEK23 million for research in humanities and the social sciences

How local democracy can be strengthened

Increasing biometric control at the EU borders

Fleeing her country inspired migrant-focused research

IKOS Calendar

Research

IKOS Research

Professors installed at IKOS

Professorships in the humanities and social sciences

Research Environments

The Ageing and Social Change research environment

Research at the Centre for Local Government Studies

Culture and society (Tema Q)

The Historical Studies Research Environment

Institute for Research on Migration, Ethnicity and Society - REMESO

The Language and Culture research environment

The Philosophy and Applied Ethics research environment

The Social Work research environment

Welfare Law

Doctoral programmes

The Doctoral Programme in Ethnic and Migration Studies

PhD Studies in Philosophy

Doctoral studies in Culture and Society

The Doctoral Programme in Social Work

Doctoral Studies in Language and Culture

The Doctoral Programme in Welfare Law

The Doctoral Programme in Ageing and Social Change

Postgraduate studies Dynamics of Health and Welfare

Graduate School and Courses

The Swedish Research Council’s Graduate School in Migration and Integration

PhD courses

Courses within the doctoral programmes at the Department of Culture and Society

Education

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, 120 credits

Ethics, Science, and Policy - Master's Programme, 120 credits

Ethnic and Migration Studies, Master's Programme, 120 credits

Contact us

Department management

Staff

The institutional board at IKOS