Upcoming Events 2026
The Centre for Activity Theory, CAT at University West, hosts open seminars, CHAT education and announces CHAT-related conferences for a broader community.
PhD summer course online: Activity Theory in Practice, 7.5 hp - Open and free of charge
You are welcome to apply for the summer course. The activity theory summer school aims to provide the students with knowledge and competences to design and conduct interventions in work activities and communities. Both core concepts and emergent views on activity theory will be explored within the summer school. Students at the master's and doctoral levels can apply to join this joint course.
Master's level, apply by clicking here
PhD level (ATPF010), apply by clicking here
Click here to get instructions on how to apply for the course.
Senior publication seminar at University West
14th of April. Send manuscript to Maria.spante@hv.se one week prior the seminar.
DATIS@CAT seminar series - Open online seminars Spring 2026
DATIS - Developing Activity Theory in Information Systems - Reflections, Experiences, and Challenges in Applying Activity Theory within Information Systems
DATIS is a research field focused on how activity theory can be used to understand and shape information systems in complex organizational and societal contexts. In DATIS at CAT, we invite researchers who have been actively working with the DATIS approach in their projects and scholarly work. Each seminar speaker will share personal experiences, highlighting both the possibilities and challenges they have encountered in applying activity theory in theory and practice.
Seminar schedule - Spring 2026
The following upcoming speakers are scheduled for Spring 2026.
Monika Hattinger – April 22, 2026, registration form.
Title: "Human-centric AI Agency in Complex Industrial Work: Transformative agency by double stimulation on the shopfloor"
Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and the analysis of Transformative Agency by Double Stimulation (TADS) (Sannino et al., 2015; 2016) have scarcely been applied in production research from a human AI agency perspective. However, this study demonstrates that CHAT is a crucial theory for understanding human agency in complex, technology-driven industrial work, which is increasingly shaped by the intersection of machines, automated systems, and digitalization.
Sharon Wagg - May 20, 2026, registration form.
Sami Paavola - June 10, 2026, registration form.
Access and Registration
Each seminar is one hour and consists of a 30-minute presentation by the invited speaker (recorded). An open discussion and Q&A will follow the presentation (not recorded).
Pre-registration is required. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link in advance. After the event, all registered participants will receive access to the recorded presentation.
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 13:00–14:00 (Swedish time)
Welcome to join us for a series of conversations where theory is grounded in lived experience – and where challenges become sources of insight and innovation.
April 18 - International Symposium on AI, Education, and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory
Format: Hybrid
Symposium Theme: Transforming Education through AI in Schools: International Collaborative Research on Activity-Theoretical Formative Interventions for Fairness and Inclusion
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 15:00–18:30 Japan Standard Time (JST / UTC+9)
Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka), Room 1101
Organizer: The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science’s Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Making an expansive school: Toward forming transformative agency” (PI: Katsuhiro Yamazumi, Grant Number: 22H00084)
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For online participation, please register via the URL below.The Zoom link and other participation details will be sent to registered participants at a later date.
Program
All times are in Japan Standard Time (JST / UTC+9).
April 21 - Change Laboratory Workshop at campus in Trollhättan (Swedish)
Har du börjat undra vad ett Change Laboratory är och hur det går till?
Varmt välkommen till en workshop tisdag den 21 april kl. 13-16 där du får veta mer, diskutera och prova på lite. Workshopen hålls i gympasalen på Högskolan Väst.
May 26 - Online meeting as part of the ISCAR
As part of the ISCAR Executive Committee Virtual World Tour taking place this semester, colleagues and students from the Nordic‑Baltic Region are warmly invited to an online meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 2:00–3:00 PM (Finland, GMT+2).
The meeting is open to all current and potential ISCAR members from the region and provides an opportunity to meet each other as well as representatives of the current ISCAR Executive. Participants will be given an overview of current developments in ISCAR, be able to express wishes and needs, and collectively discuss prospects for future steps for the Region.
Those interested are kindly asked to register by May 20 at the latest via the registration link; the form also includes the possibility to share insights to be taken into consideration by the organizers during the meeting and in future regional developments. A link to the online meeting will be shared with all registered participants by noon (Finland time) on the day of the meeting.
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Aims:
Share an overview on the current developments in ISCAR
Gather wishes and needs from current and prospective ISCAR members from the Region
Discuss prospects for future development and steps within the Region.
Preliminary agenda
Opening of the meeting and introduction of the participants (5 min)
A brief description of ISCAR, its Nordic-Baltic Region and of the Executive’s work plan for this year 2026 (5 min)
A brief overview of insights gained during the prior steps in the ISCAR Virtual World Tour through the Regions so far (5 min)
Wishes and needs from current and prospective ISCAR members from the Region for future developments (20 min)
Discussion (25 min)
June 14 - DATIS Workshop at ECIS international conference
“Reimagining Digital Technology for Business, Management, and Society” - ECIS 2026 in Milan, on 14 June this year.
Click here for more information regarding the DATIS workshop.
Contact Paul Kelly for more information p.kelly@essex.ac.uk