Through their collaboration with the Friends Foundation, Örebro researchers Björn Johansson and Erik Flygare are helping to create a safer environment for children in school.
“Our collaboration with Björn and Erik is invaluable,” says Frida Warg at Friends.
Björn Johansson and Erik Flygare are associate professors of social work at Örebro University and conduct research on children’s and young people’s experiences of, and the consequences of, exposure to violence, bullying, and abusive behavior in school. As early as 2015, they came into contact with the Friends Foundation, a children’s rights organization working toward a world without bullying. That marked the beginning of a long-standing collaboration.
“It’s important that the methods and approaches we use in our work in preschools, schools, and organizations are research-based. There’s also a tremendous amount happening in this field of research right now, and for us at Friends, it’s absolutely invaluable to be able to work together with researchers at Örebro University,” says Frida Warg, an expert at Friends.
Evaluates methods
The researchers in Örebro have conducted studies on behalf of Friends and have also evaluated the methods used by the foundation, both in terms of content and in assessing how effective they are. The collaboration has also contributed to increased exchange with other researchers in the field, including through the global anti-bullying conference World Anti-bullying Forum (WABF), which Friends organizes and where both Örebro researchers have served on the organizing committee.
“Our partnership with Friends is truly a collaboration. It’s a mutual exchange. It’s rewarding to work with an organization and people who are guided by an open and curious approach. Everyone is simply flexible and open to change and growth,” says Björn Johansson.
Frida Warg of Friends also emphasizes that the collaboration is beneficial for all parties.
“It’s not just that researchers provide knowledge that we can then use; it works both ways: our experiences, our methods, and our contact with schools create a flow in the other direction, back to the research,” she says.
It is important that research is put to good use
Frida Warg also believes that it is important for research to benefit society and contribute to change.
“There is so much knowledge out there, and it’s so important that it reaches people and is put to use; research must not be isolated from the rest of society,” she says.
For Björn Johansson and Erik Flygare, too, it is important to reach out and feel that, as researchers, they can contribute to change.
“Some of our research has already led to changes in guidelines and regulations aimed at creating a better school environment. Through our research, we want to work to combat abuse, harassment, and anxiety—so that every child feels safe and loved. We want to help create a world without bullying,” they say.
Text: Anna Lorentzon
Video: Isabell Borgencrantz