Brendan MunhallPhD student
About me
Brendan Munhall: I am interested in the experience of newly arrived and minority groups within the Swedish education system. In particular my research will explore school choice and its ability to provide an equitable experience for all participants. Below is a short description of my study
In Sweden, year-nine students are expected to choose and apply to the upper secondary school they wish to attend. Within this unique quasi-market education system, students compete for school places on the basis of grades and the schools compete for enrollment numbers based on the subject programs available and reputation. Swedish career guidance counselors have identified a lack of preparedness for school choice in newly-arrived students and deficiency of training to connect with the students’ individual needs and desires in themselves. However, there is little research exploring newly-arrived students’ own experiences, decision making process or perspectives towards choice. In this study, twenty-four newly-arrived year-nine students were interviewed in Stockholm at the beginning and end of the 2019-2020 school year. This doctoral study aims to explore these students’ experience as an outsider in Sweden and how this affects their perspectives, motivations and opportunities with upper-secondary school choice.
Prior to the PhD program, I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Economics from McMaster University before gaining a Masters of Science in Education from Medaille University. After teaching at the primary level for a number of years in Canada, Ecuador and Sweden, I completed a Master's degree in International and Comparative Education at Stockholm University.
Supervisors: Fredrik Hertzberg, Larissa Mickwitz, Daniel Lövheim
