Fredrik Backlund
Associate Professor
Research subject: Quality Technology and Logistics
Division: Business Administration and Industrial Engineering
Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts
About me
My areas of interest are foremost project management, also including team development and group dynamics. Process management is a closely related area of interest, as well as pedagogical development regarding problem-based, project-oriented and challenge-based learning.
Education
As a teacher, I have courses at basic and advanced level, for doctoral students and colleagues, as well as for companies and organizations in the form of commissioned training. As a way to be inspired and develop in the teaching role, I carry out continuous teacher exchange via ERASMUS+. For example, I have been to Valencia Polytechnic University (Spain), Aalborg University (Denmark), University of Toulouse and University of Lorraine (France).
Courses at basic level (Examiner* and course supervisor** certain course rounds): Distance course in Lean (7.5 credits), Distance course CSR (7.5 credits), Basic course in project management (15 credits)*'**, and the Basic course for quality development ( 7.5 credits)
Advanced level courses (Examiner* and course supervisor** some course rounds): Operational quality management (7.5 credits)*, **, Customer-focused product development (7.5 credits)**, Advanced project management (7.5 credits), Integration projects ( 15 credits) - Carried out together with a number of other subjects in the management area *'**, as well as supervisor of thesis degree projects (15 or 30 credits)**
I give also lectures and seminars within other educational programs and courses, mainly in project management and team development. In a course for doctoral students in project management (4.5 credits) I’m the teacher, course manager and examiner.
Supervision & supervised training
I have been one of the teachers in the course: Research Supervision Course, a mandatory course for everyone who wants to become a docent. My role has been to support the course coordination, seminar on project perspective, and examination. As an assistant supervisor, I have supervised three doctoral students, as well as supervised over 40 theses (M.Sc. and, B.Sc.).
Pedagogical development
From the fall semester 2021 through the spring semester 2023, I was on leave from the subject, to work in the role of pedagogical developer within the university’s Educational Center (HPC). Prior to that I held this role part-time (20%) for several years.
As a pedagogical developer, I mainly developed and gave courses for the college (teachers and researchers), in my role as teacher and course coordinator in the following courses: Course Design (2 credits), Problem-Based & Problem-Oriented Learning (2 credits), Program Development I & II ( 1.5 + 1, 5 credits). In the Qualifying Course for University Teachers (4.5 credits) I’ve been one of the teachers. The course Open Network Learning (3 credits) is given by other universities, where LTU was a partner university for a time. My role was course coordinator for participants from LTU, as well as facilitator/coach for PNL groups.
In the course Problem-Based & Problem-Oriented Learning (HPC007) I am still the teacher and course coordinator. Other tasks at HPC have been writing project applications, creating podcasts (Examination podcast and Merited teacher), giving different types of workshops, as well as being a coordinator and support in the development of CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) as a pedagogical model at LTU.
Online courses and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)
I have developed two MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses): 1) Plan for project success and 2) The Well-Working Team (together with Niklas Letho). Both are available on the Canvas Cataloge platform via LTU's website. I have also been involved in developing and providing MOOC+. It is a form of education that can be compared to a study circle, where MOOC participants meet online during several seminars, with me as moderator.
Within Universeh I have developed an online course in Problem-based learning for teachers. More about my participation further down.
Professional/Contract education
I have carried out Professional/Contract education for organizations and companies continuously, preferably in project management and team development. Norrlandsnavet is a center for the development of business operations in northern Sweden in collaboration between the Kamprad Family Foundation and Luleå University of Technology. As part of this, I provide professional/contract training for small and medium-sized companies in northern Sweden.
Research Development
Research efforts have mainly taken place in connection with the three doctoral projects. Application work is currently underway, with a focus on challenge-based and project-based learning. I have on several occasions acted as a discussion leader (‘Diskutant’) in connection with licentiate seminars, and been part of the grading committee during doctoral defense.
I have reviewed articles for the following journals: International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management (IJQRM), International Journal of Managing Projects in Business (IJMPB), Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research (SJER), Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management (JIEM), Project Management Journal (PMJ), TQM & Business Excellence, and Production Planning & Control Journal (PPCJ).
Projects and collaboration
UNIVERSEH is an interdisciplinary project and collaboration between several universities in Europe, with a connection to research and education related to space and the space sector. The overall aim is to facilitate mobility and support interdisciplinary programs and strengthen educational innovation and entrepreneurship.
Within UNIVERSEH, I have done a teacher exchange, developed a course for teachers and participate from 2023 in the 'Quality Assurance Committee'.
Workshops och national conferences
2023
Conference: CDIO, Trondheim
Workshop (Paper: 135): Meeting Challenges with Challenge-based Learning – a CDIO Context
Authors: Fredrik Backlund, Jeanette Engzell, Svante Gunnarsson, Erik Hulthen, Malin Kjellberg, Cia Lundvall, Johan Malmqvist, Charlotte, A. Norrman, Marcus Strömbäck Hjärne and Christian Stöhr
Conference: Högskola och Samhälle i Samverkan, HSS, Trollhättan
Presentation: Ett engagerande och flexibelt utbildningskoncept: MOOC+ [In Swedish]
Authors: Fredrik Backlund & Pernilla Tingvall
2022
Conference: Nätverk och utveckling, NU2022, Stockholm
Presentation: MOOC Study Circle – A Pilot Project at Luleå University of Technology
Authors: Fredrik Backlund & Pernilla Tingvall
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