Viktor Aldrin

M.A. (2004), M.Sc. (2012), D.Th. (2010), Excellent Teaching Practitioner ETP (2015), Docent (Associate professor/Dr. theol. habil.) in Practical Theology/Religious Education (2018), and in during June-July 2024 visiting Junior Professor in Practical Theology with Religious Education at Münster University, Germany.

Since of 2016, am I Senior Lecturer in Religious Education at the University of Borås. In 2018 I was appointed Associate Professor in Practical Theology with Religious Education. Together with Associate Prof. Dr. Ola Svensson, I lead the research group SONOMA – the Research Group for Subject Matter Education in Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, established in 2021. In 2024 I initialised the international Collaborative Network for Climate Change in Religious Education (CORE).

In recent years, my research has focused on the climate crisis at the intersection of practical theology, religious education, and interdisciplinary educational research. A recurring concern in my projects is how religious and ethical education can help transform climate-related anxiety, despair, and polarisation into action-oriented hope, moral responsibility, and global cooperation. Through, among other approaches, systematic literature reviews and international comparisons, I have mapped how climate change is addressed within religious education and theological scholarship, with particular attention to issues of justice, inclusion, and children’s and adolescents’ meaning-making in a context shaped by multiple, overlapping crises. My research also examines how pedagogical practices and theological narratives can function as resources for strengthening climate awareness, ethical reflection, and democratic participation. A central aspect of my work is to integrate theoretical analysis with the practice-oriented development of teaching materials and didactic models for schools and teacher education. Through my research and international collaboration, I seek to contribute to establishing the climate crisis as a central field of inquiry within religious education and practical theology, with a particular emphasis on the role of hope as a driving force for sustainable transformation. Methodologically, I hold a pragmatic stance, using Multi Methods Research (MMR) where different methods are joined to bring a broader understanding. Such qualitative methods used by me are text analysis, visual analysis, policy analysis, action research and practice research, whereas quantitative methods are surveys and other statistics.

Through the years, I am often asked for as peer reviewer of pedagogical merits, systematic educational reviews and senior lecture positions. To that, I frequently host Swedish media as expert on religion in society and education.

In the year 2010, I defended my Doctoral Thesis at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and received my doctorate in Theology. Before my time at the University of Borås, I have worked at the University of Gothenburg, the University of Halmstad and as a certified school teacher at Upper Secondary Schools in Halmstad, Lund and Helsingborg. I have at multiple periods of time worked abroad as visiting scholar: Münster University, Germany (2024), Frankfurt University, Germany (2018), Cambridge University, The United Kingdom (2008), and Helsinki University, Finland (2007).

Active Research Networks

• Swedish Forum for Research in Religious Education.
• International Seminar of Religious Education and Values (ISREV).
• International Academy of Practical Theology (IAPT).
• European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) – SIG 19 Religions and Worldviews in Education.
• The Collaborative Network for Climate Change in Religious Education (CORE).
• European Comission Education for Climate Coalition.
• Swedish Association of the Sociology of Religion.

Assignments

Current assignments 

International and national assignments

• Chair for the Swedish National Forum for Research on Religious Education (2025–).
• Chair for the Collaborative Network for Climate Change in Religious Education, CORE (2024–).
• Member of the book review board för International Journal of Practical Theology (IJPT), (2022–).
• Member of the international editorial board för HITIK: The International Journal of Catechesis and Religious Education (2025–).

Assignments at the University of Borås, Sweden

• Research leader for SONOMA – Subject Matter Education in Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics (2021–). My joint leader colleague is Associate Prof. Dr. Ola Svensson.
• Chair of the Research Ethics Board of University of Borås (2022–).
• Member of the Research and Education Board of University of Borås (2025–)

Previous assignments

International and national assignments

• Member of the Board for the Swedish National Forum for Research on Religious Education (2023–2025).
• External reviewer of the University College of Stockholm’s Programme for Ministerial training (2021).
• External reviewer of the Church of Sweden’s Educational Institute and its training in Pastoral Care (2015).
• Technical Assistant Editor for The Annuals of Church History in Sweden (2004–2009).

Assignments at the University of Borås, Sweden

• Chair of the Board of Pedagogical Education Programmes, University of Borås (2022–2024).
• Research leader for the CHILD-reminary, University of Borås (2019–2020). 2019 as joint leader with Prof. Dr. Disa Bergnehr, 2020 on my own.
• Member of the University Board of Borås (2017–2020).

Visiting Fellow

Guest Researcher in Practical Theologh and Religious Education, Section for Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen (April–June 2026).

• Visiting Junior Professor in Practical Theology and Religious Education, Münster University, Faculty of Protestant Theology (June-July 2024).
• Visiting Scholar in Practical Theology and Religious Education, Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Protestant Theology (May-June 2018).
• Visiting Scholar in Practical Theology, Lund University, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (2005–2016).
• Visiting PhD Candidate in The History of Christianity, Cambridge University, Faculty of Divinity (2008).
• Visiting PhD Candidate in Practical Theology, The University of Helsinki, Faculty of Theology and the Finnish Literary Society (2007).

Researcher's publications in DiVA (Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet)

Doctoral thesis title

Prayer in Peasant Communities: A Contrast of Ideals and Practices