The Centre for the Study of Professions (SPS) investigates professional work, recruitment, labour markets, ethics, and policies concerning professions.
SPS is the only research environment in Norway that studies professions both as institutionalised educational paths, career trajectories, societal institutions, and practical fields of expertise.
Our centre hosts a multidisciplinary team of researchers with academic backgrounds in sociology, philosophy, education, history, political science, economics, and other relevant disciplines.
SPS is closely involved in political processes and public inquiries and our overarching goal is to develop the field of professional studies as a national and international area of research and knowledge.
PhD Education
Our PhD program in The Study of Professions is characterized by a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches, introducing candidates to both general and distinctive features of professions.
SPS regularly advertises PhD positions and master’s scholarships for applicants interested in writing a dissertation or thesis relevant to our research areas.
We also offer several PhD-courses each semester in qualitative and quantitative methods, professional ethics, and philosophy of science.
Academic events
Our centre regularly hosts academic events open to all:
- Forum for Research Ethics at OsloMet: An interdisciplinary meeting place for discussion and reflection on research ethics.
- Qualitative Research Forum: A forum for researchers working with qualitative methods.
- The Grimen Lecture: An annual lecture in memory of Harald Grimen, a distinguished scholar and teacher in Norwegian philosophy and social science.
University pedagogy
SPS offers several education programs in university pedagogy for OsloMet staff and external academic personnel:
Journal
SPS publishes the academic journal Professions and Professionalism (journals.oslomet.no), a peer-reviewed journal focusing on professions and other knowledge-based occupational groups.
