Special Issue Introduction: What Has Changed and What Remains? Institutional Shifts in Nordic Higher Education in the 2000s

Mikko Poutanen is a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University, Finland. His research interests include the political economy of higher education, political communication, ideology theory and qualitative research methods. He is also the editor-in-chief of Politiikasta, a webjournal that popularizes social science research.

Tuomas Tervasmäki is a doctoral researcher in the Faculty of Education and Culture at Tampere University, Finland. Currently he is finalising his PhD dissertation in which he analyses politics of education and ideological foundations of Finnish education policy from the perspective of political discourse theory. Tervasmäki is also a member of Political sociologies and philosophies of education (POISED) research group.

Rómulo Pinheiro is Professor of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Agder, Norway, where is also Deputy Head of Department for Political Science and Management. Rómulo’s research interests are located at the intersection of public policy and administration, organisational theory, economic geography, innovation and higher education studies.

Lars Geschwind is Professor in Engineering Education Policy and Management, coordinator of the research group HEOS (Higher Education Organization Studies) and Head of Division at Learning in STEM at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. His main research interests are higher education policy, institutional governance, academic leadership and management and academic work. He is currently involved in a number of projects focusing on change processes in higher education institutions, including e.g. governance and steering, quality assurance, academic careers and partnership with external stakeholder. Most studies include a comparative component and a historical perspective.