Ulrika Sultan

About Ulrika Sultan

Ulrika is currently on a leave of absence.

Biography

Ulrika Sultan is a researcher and university lecturer specialising in technology education and girls’ participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). She leads the STEAM Education research group within the School of Science and Technology at Örebro University and is committed to advancing gender equality, inclusion and diversity in technology and engineering education.

Her research examines how social norms, stereotypes and identity shape girls’ engagement with technology and STEM, with particular attention to how these factors influence self-perception, participation and educational choices. Alongside her academic work, she contributes to a range of national and international initiatives aimed at broadening participation in STEM and STEAM education.

Teaching

Ulrika teaches technology education across teacher education programmes, including Early Childhood Teacher Education and Primary Teacher Education, and teaches sustainable development on engineering programmes.

She supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects in technology education, science education, mathematics education and teacher education. She also coordinates courses in technology education, early childhood education and sustainable development.

Previously, she taught technology education within secondary teacher education programmes at Linköping University and the University of Gothenburg, where she supervised research projects focusing on programming, digital learning, gender and identity.

Research

Ulrika’s research focuses on technology education, engineering education and girls’ participation in STEM. Her doctoral thesis, In Whose Eyes Am I Technical? Exploring the ‘Problem’ of the (Non)Technical Girl, challenges the persistent assumption that girls are inherently less interested in technology and demonstrates how gendered expectations shape participation, confidence and identity in technical subjects.

She leads the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) research group at Örebro University and collaborates internationally on research in technology and engineering education. She is a member of the Centre for the Advancement of Technology Education Research (CATER) and the Emotions in Engineering Education (EEE) research group, and is currently affiliated with Engineering Education Research (EER) at Chalmers University of Technology as a Visiting Researcher.

In addition to her research, she develops educational resources for teacher education, schools and professional development, and serves as a peer reviewer for international journals in technology education, science education and gender studies.

Current research projects

• Erasmus+ project on strengthening technology education (Västra Götaland Region)
• Scientific Capital and STEAM Education (Chalmers University of Technology and Universeum)
• International collaboration on technology education (Chalmers University of Technology)
• LISA – Learning in STEAM Activities in Early Childhood Education
• Future Minds Exploring Metal Technologies (NextMetals, funded by Vinnova)
• Technology (and Mathematics) for Everyone in Informal Learning Environments: A STEAM Approach (Universeum)

Professional Service and Collaboration

Ulrika has served as a Accreditation Panel for a proposed BEd in Construction Technology & Technology for Technological University of the Shannon ( TUS) and Dublin City University. 

She serves as an expert adviser to the Swedish National Agency for Education on technology education, mathematics and the use of artificial intelligence in teaching. She represents Örebro University within the Centre for Technology in Schools (CETIS) and serves on the Advisory Board of Womenengineer, a foundation promoting gender equality in engineering education.

She is an ambassador for the United Nations initiative #1MillionGirlsInSTEM, delivered in collaboration with UNESCO, and works closely with schools, industry and public learning organisations to promote inclusive STEM education. She is also co-founder of the Vera initiative, which introduces girls aged 10–12 to engineering through collaborations with Volvo Construction Equipment and other industry partners.

Her previous professional roles include service on teacher education committees at Örebro University, membership of the Advisory Board for Women in Technology Nigeria, and board membership of Mattecentrum, a non-profit organisation promoting mathematical confidence among young people.

Awards and Recognition

• Best Presentation Award, PATT43 – Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Technology International Research Conference (2026), recognising an innovative and engaging research presentation.
• Jämställdhetsmyran Carlsson Equality Award (2025), presented by KomTek Halmstad for outstanding contributions to gender equality and diversity.
• Role Model Award, #addher Awards (2024).
• Tech Builder and Innovation Award, Women in Technology Nigeria (2023).
• Nominee, Plan International Girls’ Award (2024), in recognition of her doctoral research.