Doctoral program FEELIT – Foundations of Equitable and Engaging Literacy Teaching in Primary Grades

The doctoral program FEELIT – Foundations of Equitable and Engaging Literacy Teaching in Primary Grades, coordinated by Robert Walldén from Linné university, responds to urgent national and international concerns about declining literacy outcomes and increasing educational inequities. It aims to strengthen the research base and competence of teacher educators in Swedish and Swedish as a second language for grades K–6.

The program focuses on three core themes:

• explicit literacy instruction,
• inclusive and adaptive teaching for diverse student groups,
• and the role of children’s literature in fostering literacy engagement and literary understanding.

FEELIT is a collaboration between Linnaeus University, Malmö University, Kristianstad University, and Linköping University, each contributing distinct expertise in pedagogy, linguistics, literature, and special education. Nine doctoral candidates will be recruited nationally and admitted to existing third-cycle programs at partner institutions. Through joint courses, cross-institutional seminars, and coordinated supervision, the program creates a unique, interdisciplinary environment for literacy research. FEELIT addresses a fragmented research landscape by bridging cognitive and sociocultural paradigms, and supports the long-term development of high-quality teacher education. By targeting early years of schooling, the program contributes vital knowledge for fostering equitable literacy development from the start of children’s educational trajectories.