FOFOS - Graduate School for the Public Sector of the Future

Purpose and goal

FOFOS is a transdisciplinary, innovative graduateschool, constituting a national knowledge node for the development of actionable knowledge for public sector transformation. Context-specific and synthesized principles for how transformation can occur through changes in societal structures, institutional systems and innovative practical action is developed. FOFOS´ mission is to develop the relationships between the parties of the social contract for a sustainable social development.

Expected effects and result

The result of the graduate school will be not only ten PhD-theses, but knowledge emerging in the meetings of different actors. Insights are tested in organisations and the learning outcomes of these processes inspires fundamental changes. The graduate school may be expanded in a 2nd and 3rd according to the SustainGov call for proposals. The long term effect is a renewal of relationships between public actors, academia, business, civil society and citizens.

Planned approach and implementation

FOFOS is organized in an innovative way based on six guiding principles, with the aim of stimulating the development of knowledge in the meeting and interaction of different actors. In close collaboration with stakeholders, ten doctoral projects linked to SustainGov´s focus areas 2025–2028 are carried out in transdisciplinary teams. FOFOS is hosted by the Center for Welfare Change at Mälardalen University, and the graduate school´s other university partners are SCORE, KTH, LU, LTU and GU.