Responsibilities
- My primary teaching responsibilities are rooted in the comprehensive five-year teacher qualification Masters program in Norway. Central to this program is the exploration of diverse learning theories and delving into the foundational principles that underpin effective pedagogy. Attention is devoted to addressing behavioral challenges within the classroom environment, equipping teachers with the strategies and skills necessary to manage and support students with diverse needs. Intercultural and multicultural expertise is also woven throughout the curriculum, preparing teachers to navigate the complexities of today's increasingly diverse classrooms with sensitivity and proficiency. Practical experience is gained through supervised practice placements, providing students with invaluable opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world teaching settings under the guidance of experienced mentors. Additionally, the program equips educators with essential research methods, empowering them to critically evaluate educational practices and contribute to ongoing advancements in the field. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates emerge as well-rounded and capable educators ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their students.
- In addition to my primary teaching duties, I serve as a supervisor and examiner for postgraduate students hailing from various regions of Norway and beyond. Furthermore, I actively engage in peer-review activities for esteemed academic journals, including but not limited to the Cambridge Journal of Education, Whiteness and Education, Education in the North, Cogent Social Sciences, Social Compass, and the International Review of Sociology of Religion.
- Furthermore, I co-lead the research group "Minorities and Education," where we actively pursue scholarly inquiries into pertinent issues surrounding education and diversity. Our most recent endeavor involves the publication of the book "Racism and Education: 400 Years of Black Lives in Norway" (Thomas, P, Alhassan, A.R.A & Hoff, J. (2024)), which has garnered positive reception. Currently, the book is undergoing rigorous peer-review with Manchester University Press (level 2/Sikt).
- Additionally, we occasionally disseminate our research and expertise through various media platforms, actively contributing to shaping the discourse on pertinent topics.
CV
PhD in Education: King's College, London (University of London). Doctoral thesis: The Creation-Evolution Debate: An Islamic Perspective (2012) supervised by Dr Philip Barnes and Professor Alister McGrath (Andreos Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford).
MPhil in Multicultural/International Education. Oslo University College. Thesis: Tolerance in religious education : a comparative study of three junior secondary schools in Kumasi, Ghana (2009)
Allmennlærerutdanning/four-year Teacher Training Programme with an integrated Bachelor in Education. Oslo Mteropolitan University (2008).
Publications
Thomas, P. (2024). A Somali-Norwegian Saga: My Journey from Refugee to Cab Driver to Professor. Open access book. Walter de Gruyter (sikt/nsd level 2). In press. Release date: 22 July 2024.
Thomas, P. (2022). Doing Critical Pedagogy Together: A case study in a Norwegian postgraduate program. Journal of Transformative Education. Sage Publications. Online first. May 2022.
Thomas, Paul and Kuyini Alhassan, Abdul-Razak. "Challenging Antisemitism: A Pedagogical Approach in a Norwegian School" (Book chapter). Volume 4 Confronting Antisemitism from Perspectives of Philosophy and Social Sciences, edited by Armin Lange, Kerstin Mayerhofer, Dina Porat and Lawrence H. Schiffman, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2021, pp. 345-368. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110671971-017 Level 2 publication (NSD). Part of the research group "Minorities and Education".
Paul Thomas, Abdul-Razak Kuyini Alhassan & Anne Liv Kaarstad Lie (2020) Bunad, minorities and belonging in Norway, National Identities: Critical Inquiry into Nationahood, Politics & Culture (Routledge) DOI: 10.1080/14608944.2020.1851669. Part of the research group "Minorities and Education".
Thomas, P., & Røthing, Å. (2017). Exploring feminism in a multicultural classroom: using Bend it Like Beckham as a tool in a high school class. Intercultural Education, 1-19. Level 2 article in CRistin /NSD.
Thomas, P., & Selimovic, A. (2015). “Sharia on a Plate?” A critical discourse analysis of halal food in two Norwegian newspapers. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 6(3), 331-353. Winner of the 2016 Emerald Literati Awards
Thomas, P. (2012). Religious education and the feminisation of witchcraft: A study of three secondary schools in Kumasi, Ghana. British Journal of Religious Education, 34(1), 67-86. Level 2 article in CRistin /NSD.
Click here for Google Scholar list.
Popular science production: lectures, media etc.
Aftenposten (08.08.2022). Fremmer eller hemmer Sjaman Durek kampen mot rasisme?
Romerikes Blad (05.15.2021). Evnen til å leve med forskjeller.
(10.06.2020). Opinion piece. "Gjør Jesus svart igjen!". Vårt Land.
(2018). NrK Radio 22.04.2018. Ytring. Participant in the debate about Somali children who are sent to Quran schools in Somalia.
(2017). Speaker: IPED seminar. University College of Southeast Norway. “Norwegian-Somali parents who send their children to schools in Somalia”. 15.12.17. Kongsberg, Norway.
(2016). One of two keynote speakers at a seminar arranged by The Norwegian Association of Religious Education Teachers (23 April 2016). Theme: Challenges in the classroom.
(2014). Parents-Teachers pilot project at Hellerud high school, east Oslo (December 3, 2014). Responsible for one of two classrooms which comprised part of the ‘Parents-Teachers project’. The objective was to liaise closely with parents (for under 16 year old students) for a year and evaluate results on several indices.
(2012). Dagsavisen. "Multikulturalisme - en menneskerett" (Multiculturalism – a human right».