Thesis Cluster for Sustainable Transition
Short description
Through the initiative "Thesis Cluster for Sustainable Transition", Wexsus offers external societal actors in West Sweden access to unique and interdisciplinary knowledge through facilitated collaboration with master students from the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, and University West.
Our offer to societal actors and master's students
Wexsus matches students from various disciplines and programmes at our three participating universities into mixed groups, which we call thesis clusters. Each cluster tackles a complex sustainability challenge on behalf of one or more external societal actors.
Wexsus acts as a link between community actors and students, both by practically managing the process and by creating favorable conditions for constructive exchange. Each student writes their own thesis in their own course, defines their own research question, and has their own supervisor affiliated with their course.
During the project, Wexsus organizes a couple of physical and digital meetings where students can meet each other and the case owners. During these meetings they will get the chance to problematize the challenges, test tools that deepen the understanding of sustainable development, and exchange knowledge and perspectives. Course leaders and thesis supervisors are also welcome at our physical meetings.
The project culminates in a joint final event where all students get to present their results.
Important dates
- Q&A webinar for students on September 24 at 4:15 PM
(registration link will come after the summer) - Application for a thesis cluster is open September 25 - October 19
- Notification of admission will be given no later than November 1
- Kick-off in mid-November
Background
The thesis cluster was developed as a pilot project in 2024–2025, with support from the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers and University of West Sweden. The pilot tested the model with a limited number of programs and community actors with very positive results. The lessons learned from the pilot phase form the basis of the model that is now being scaled up and integrated into Wexsus' regular operations.
The following social actors are confirmed stakeholders for 2025-2026
- The City of Trollhättan
- Innovatum Science Park
- County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland
- Department of Civil Defense and Emergency Preparedness
- Department of Environment
- Department of Society - Region Västra Götaland
- Regional Development
- Nature Management Administration - The Gothenburg Region
- Göteborgs stad
- Gröna Klustret
- The West Sweden Chamber of Commerce
- Rural Sweden
- RF-SISU Västra Götaland (National Sports Confederation and SISU Sports Educators)
(More actors may be added.)
