Strike researcher Christer Thörnqvist, lecturer at the University of Skövde, has passed away after a long illness.
Since 2014, Christer Thörnqvist worked at the University of Skövde, mainly with teaching. He became a highly regarded teacher in Skövde. The students at the School of Business awarded him with “Guldäpplet” (The Golden Apple), the Student Union’s prize for Teacher of the Year, both in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“Christer was always happy and positive. It was noticeable how much he cared about us students, our learning and our opinions – he had a genuine ability to meet us on our own wavelength. His warm and helpful personality made him a favorite among us, and he will be greatly missed,” says Melissa Ferm, Chairman of the Student Union in Skövde.
“As a colleague, he made a big impression. He had a sound academic ability to question things and his knowledge interests were very wide – a true academic,” says Mikael Wickelgren, Head of the School of Business at the University of Skövde.
Expert voice in the media on strikes and conflicts
20 years ago, there was a municipal strike in Sweden, which was the starting point for Christer Thörnqvist's participation as an expert voice in the media, regarding labor market conflicts. In Sweden, there are many experts when it comes to the legal part of labor law, but not the historical one, which was Christer Thörnqvist's specialisation. When the highly publicised strike against Tesla began in 2023, he was in the media, both newspapers, radio and television, often several times a week.
“Christer was one of Sweden's most knowledgeable researchers in labor market conflicts and a valued expert voice. If the media wanted a comment on strikes, they called Christer. He had a fascinating ability to associate, and a sense of humor that went beyond the ordinary,” says Mikael Wickelgren.
Worked at several universities
In addition to the University of Skövde, Christer previously conducted research at the University of Gothenburg and Linköping University. He also spent a year as a Visiting Professor at Yale University, where he taught Global Industrial Relations and International Human Resource Management.
Christer Thörnqvist was 63 years old.