October 26-30, 2026, at School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden (on site)
Join us for our international PhD course in Perspectives in Data Literacy and Innovation. This doctoral course links data literacy to product, service, process, and business model innovation to develop an advanced understanding of how companies can leverage data as a strategic resource in dynamic ecosystems. Furthermore, it also addresses how innovation changes when AI-enabled systems are integrated into organizational practices, and how companies can build data literacy as a capability that both enables and shapes value creation. This course is mainly designed for PhD candidates in marketing, informatics, information systems, entrepreneurship, innovation or strategy, but we also invite those PhD candidates who wish to broaden their knowledge related to research topics in other management areas, economics or informatics. The doctoral course combines seminars, case discussions and two panel discussions with practitioners about “Identifying relevant avenues of research on data literacy and innovation in the Nordic countries” and “How to conduct research with societal value in the Nordic countries”.
Course structure and timetable
The course will be divided into four themes and a final discussion/presentation of paper synopses. It will run as an intensive one-week course, in Kalmar (Sweden), with one main theme per day. Each theme combines conceptual discussion and empirical application. The detailed schedule and session topics will be announced prior to the start of the course. We will also invite participants to a pre-course online session.
Assessment
The course will be examined through seminars (mandatory) during the running of the course and a final course paper. The seminars involve discussing and applying literature related to each module of the course. The final course paper aims to relate to course material and further reading to the research interest of the PhD candidate. To successfully complete the course, students must successfully complete all required assignments.
Course faculty
The course team includes:
• Clarinda Jansberg, associate professor in marketing, Linnaeus University (head of course)
• Christina Öberg, professor in marketing, Linnaeus University (co-head of course)
• Carsten Sørensen, professor in digital innovation, Copenhagen Business School
• Arianit Kurti, professor of informatics, Linnaeus University
• Gabriel Linton, associate professor on digitalization and sustainability, University of Inland
• Leena Aarikka Stenros, professor in industrial engineering and management, Tampere University
Enrolment
Apply for the course by September 18, 2026. Applicants should email Sofia Ekström (sofia.jonsson-ekstrom@lnu.se) expressing their interest and attach a motivational letter (maximum of two pages). The course participants will be selected based on a motivation statement outlining their interest in the subject, relevance for their research, and their merits (e.g., educational certificates).
The cost of each course is 5.000 SEK (+25% VAT). Payment instructions will be distributed upon acceptance. Doctoral students from NFF member universities do not pay the course fee.
