March 31–May 11, 2026 (online) & August 24–25, 2026 on site in Örebro, Sweden
Join us for our international PhD course Natural Ecosystems and Organisations. This interdisciplinary course explores how natural ecosystems – flora and fauna – interact with, shape, and are governed by contemporary business systems. Through a series of online modules and an in-person workshop, doctoral students engage critically with emerging research areas such as biodiversity finance, sustainability reporting, ecosystem services, ecojustice, animal ethics and multispecies justice. Designed for PhD candidates across business administration fields, the course combines lectures, seminars, case discussions and peer-learning activities to support students in integrating ecological perspectives into research on business strategy and governance.
Course structure and timetable
The course consists of four online modules during spring 2026, and one in-person workshop in Örebro, August 24-25, combining lectures, seminars, case discussions and peer-learning activities with international expert faculty. Students will read materials in advance of sessions, as well as engage in peer review and presentation of their work in different ways.
The course faculty includes:
- experts in different fields of business: Assistant Professors Leanne Johnstone and Tommy Borglund, and Associate Professor, Nina Hasche, Örebro University School of Business, Sweden; Sabina Du Rietz Dahlström, Associate Professor, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Assistant Professors Viktor Elliot and Kristina Jönall, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Assistant Professor Astrid Sofia Huopalainen, Department of Management Studies, Aalto University, Finland; Professor in Sustainable Business, Asta Salmi, Oulu Business School, University of Oulu, Finland; Professor of Management and Organization, Satu Teerikangas, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Finland; and Professor of Public Financial Management, Eija Vinnari, Tampere University, Finland.
- communications experts from Örebro University; and
- practitioners for panel discussion.
Examination
Attendance of at least five out of six course days is required to pass, as well as submission and presentation of a working draft thesis chapter or paper idea connected to any of the topics in the course. The Course Director assesses if and how absence may be compensated.
More information and applications
Apply for the course by March 10, 2026. Applicants must fill in Örebro University’s application form and send this, alongside a motivational letter of (maximum) two pages expressing interest to the course director (leanne.johnstone@oru.se). Fees waived for NFF students.
For more information, visit the course website.
