About the research group

The research group considers philosophy of education to be a discipline that draws upon education theory and practice as well as theoretical and empirical research. When contemporary empirical conditions are regarded in the context of philosophy of education, one contributes to an improved understanding of cultural and social phenomena and to the renewal of associated notions and theories.

The philosophy of education research group is an initiative by Mariann Solberg and Andrew Kristiansen, having its first meeting in October 2016. In January 2018 the group was approved as a research group at the beginner’s level by the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education — the status was designated for a two-year period. In january 2020, the research group was established as a research group at level 1 by the faculty. This level indicates that the group is among those who

"have passed the consolidation phase and have developed an academic community and a professionally focused activity level. They consist of researchers who publish regularly and have experience with external funding applications, and who have specific plans for increased research quality. Research groups in this phase will prioritize and immerse themselves in a professionally focused area, gather around common academic goals and build strategic networks to create an international reputation."

The group’s research interests include a variety of topics and fields. We have identified three fields of interest within philosophy of education, centered on issues of cognitive/epistemological, political and moral philosophy:

  1. Critical thinking, reflexive judgement, knowledge
  2. Justice, equality and inequality, recognition, democracy, deliberative communication, diversity, curriculum studies
  3. Bildung, fundamental values of education (prescool, primary, secondary, tertiary)

The group convenes in research seminars once a month, in which draft texts or new developments in education are presented.

The group consists per June 2022 of 11 members who have their primary connection to the group (core members):

PhD-student Alejandro Alvelais, education, ILP
Associate professor Morten Bartnæs, teacher education / Norwegian, ILP
Associate professor Jens Breivik, education, ILP
Associate professor Hilde Brox, teacher education / English, ILP
Professor Andrew Kristiansen, education, ILP
PhD-student Joakim Berg Larsen, education, ILP
Assistant professor Susanne Sakariassen, education, ILP
Associate professor Pål Anders Opdal, education, ILP
Associate professor Randi Skjelmo, education, ILP
Professor Mariann Solberg, education, ILP
Associate professor Anna Maria Stenseth, education, ILP

6 members have their secondary connection to the group (connected):

Assistent professor Anne Lise Bakke, kindergarten teacher education, ILP
Associate professor Kristin Emilie W Bjørndal, teacher education, ILP
Professor Kjersti Fjørtoft, philosophy, IFF
Associate professor Robert Isaksen, university pedagogy, Result
Assistent professor Andreas Halvorsen Lødemel, teacher education, ILP
Associate professor Tatiana Wara, teacher education, ILP

Masterstudents working on themes in the philosophy of education  who has their supervisor in the group regularly participate in activities.

The research group has established working relations with the research group Grunnped at the University of Bergen, and meet in a joint workshop, Tromsø-Bergen-seminaret in philosophy of education, once a year.

Members of the group participate in a variety of networks and publish in several different journals and with different publishers. Here is a list of networks and journals that is of particular interest to us as philosophers of education. 

Previously, a Philosphy of education forum was connected to the research group. It consisted of researchers and others with an interest in problems in the philosophy of Education. The forum has been shut down due to the research groups decision to narrow down its research focus.