Centre for Activity Theory (CAT)

Director: Dr Maria Spante, UW (informatics)
Co-director: Dr Annalisa Sannino, Tampere University and UW (education)

Dr. Ge Wei,
Director of Research Center for Children and Teacher Education
College of Elementary Education, Capital Normal University

Dr.Inger Eriksson,
School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences

Dr. Katsuhiro Yamazumi,
Professor of Education, Kansai University

Dr. Aydin Bal,
Interim Faculty Director, Global Engagement Office
Professor, Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Brett Bligh
Director, Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning
Director, Doctoral Programme in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning
Department for Educational Research
Lancaster University

Dr. Yannick Lémonie
Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers

Dr. Yrjö Engeström
University of Helsinki
University West

Dr. May Britt Postholm
NTNU, Norway

Dr. Stan Karanasios
University of Queensland Business School, Business Information Systems
The University of Queensland

Activity theory is short for Cultural Historical Activity Theory - a framework that originated as a monist, materialist, and dialectical psychology grounded in the works of Vygotsky and Leontiev. 

Over the years, it has been applied to organizations and larger social systems to better understand how people collectively learn, investigate, solve problems, and deliberate over desired futures.

Activity theory has been applied in fields and disciplines as diverse as education, organizational sociology, human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, hospital administration, writing studies, and entrepreneurship and management.

Most recently, across the world activity theory has been applied to large-scale societal challenges such as homelessness, social and environmental justice, and climate change. 

Because of its focus on social dynamics within and across scenes of collective labor, activity theory has often been applied in studies of Work Integrated Learning (WIL). This work has taken place globally—and WIL researchers who use activity theory across the globe need a way to network with each other so we can continue developing activity theory to best address scenes of work. 

The University West- Centre for Activity Theory fills that role. Here, we host events and disseminate publications applying activity theory to WIL, strengthening the global research community. 

Bureau de Change Laboratory (pubpub.org)

Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning | University of Helsinki

REUNA - Network for Research and Education in Chile
The RENUA project is a CHAT-driven initiative that also uses Change Laboratories for collective development and transformative agency in education.

University West inaugurated the Centre for Activity Theory in August 2021.

“There is a great international interest in activity theory. The model is closely linked to Work-Integrated Learning, so the centre can contribute to make the university's work in that field visible”, says Kristina Johansson, Associate professor in Education with specialization in Work Integrated Learning.

Readmore in the news article