How Diversity Matters: On the potential of a critical pedagogy of multicultural incorporation in urban schools

Speaker: Anna Lund, Professor of Sociology, Stockholm University

Title: How Diversity Matters: On the potential of a critical pedagogy of multicultural incorporation in urban schools

Abstract: Everyday school experiences transcend mere academic performance and encompass the collective coexistence of society. Against this sociological backdrop, the article explores the evolving dynamics of urban schools in Nordic contexts, emphasizing the significance of diversity within educational settings.

As societies become increasingly heterogeneous and super-diverse, teachers are developing skills to recognize and embrace this diversity as a norm. Through an empirical study involving seven schools across Finland, Scotland, and Sweden, we examine educational practices that matter for ethnic minority students. Drawing on critical pedagogy and cultural sociology, the paper investigates the cultural structures (beliefs and practices) that support minority ethnic students in schools concerning their sense of belonging, peer relations, and academic achievement.

Bio: Anna Lund’s work incorporates cultural sociological perspectives and ethnographic methods. She is currently investigating social and cultural opportunity structures in school/family networks, local communities, and, artistic spaces for migrant youth in Sweden.