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Layal Wiltgren is an Associate Professor at Linköping University, specializing in the challenges faced by high-performing students from minority ethnic backgrounds. Her research investigates the concept of 'polite exclusion' in schools, where students experience social distancing and subtle forms of exclusion that are not overtly abusive. Wiltgren defended her thesis in 2014 in Child Studies at Linköping University. Currently, she works in the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, serving as a course coordinator in the Teacher Education Programme. Her research particularly examines how high-performing students articulate their experiences of migration and how these relate to their social realities in educational contexts. Through numerous articles, she explores the discrepancies between students' lived experiences and the perceptions held by staff, highlighting the impact of teachers' colorblind approaches. Her thesis research was based on year-long fieldwork in a socially disadvantaged high school, focusing on how students utilize multilingualism and their ethnic identity in creatively challenging and reinforcing community dynamics. Wiltgren holds dual degrees in psychology and social anthropology, and her ongoing projects include managing a FORTE-financed study on the identities and success strategies of high-performing students with migrant backgrounds.
Linköping University • Linköping, Sweden
Teaching and researching issues related to ethnicity, social exclusion, and school experiences of high-performing minority students.
Requirements are standardized across the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Institute of Technology) for international Master's programs.