Some of our research interests:
- Teachers’ digital competence
- Digital equality
- Playful learning
- Gamification
- Learner autonomy
- VR and simulation
- Assessment and feedback literacy
- GenAI in higher education
- Teaching for agency and responsibility
- Approaches to teaching in higher education
- Academic development
- Innovation in higher education
- Interprofessional education and interprofessional collaboration
- Education policy and relevant governing documents for teaching in higher education
- Transition from upper secondary school to higher education (academic preparedness)
Our research methods
We are using an array of research methods, as well as developing and trying out new methods for research and dissemination.
Our research is conducted both as a part of USN’s pedagogical development work, but also in collaboration with researchers at other institutions, nationally and internationally.
Our partners and networks
National: Høgskolen Kristiania, Høgskolen på Vestlandet, Universitetet i Stavanger, VID Vitenskapelige høgskole, Lovisenberg Diakonale høgskole, Universitetet i Oslo, Oslomet, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), NIFU.
Member of the Norwegian network for university pedagogy: www.uhped.no
International: Örebro University (Sweden), University of Portsmouth (UK), University of Chester (UK), University of Hertfordshire (UK), University of Graz (Austria), University of Granada (Spain), Private University College of Teacher Education Augustinum (PPH, Austria), University college of Teacher Education Styria (Austria), University of Padova (Italy), University of Tallinn (Estonia).
Ongoing research and development projects:
Approaches to AI in higher education
The aim of the project is twofold:
1. To advance our understanding of how educational leaders at various institutional levels—from program coordinators to university rectors—approach questions related to artificial intelligence (AI) and higher education.
2. To contribute to the development and enhancement of educational leadership in the age of AI.
Project start: Mai 2024
Project members: Ester Fremstad and Anna Steen-Utheim (USN),
Camilla Bjelland and Anja Møgelvang (HVL).
VuKomp: Vurderingskompetanse i en skiftende hverdag/Assessment literacy in higher education
This research project aims to explore the assessment literacy of university lecturers in higher education by integrating an interview study and a questionnaire study from a survey. More information, please see our blog.
Project start: February 2023 – July 2026
Project members: Anna Steen-Utheim (USN), Hanne Maria Bingen (LDH), Aleksandra Sæheim (VID)
EQui-T (European Quality Development System for Inclusive Education and Teacher Training) - Erasmus+ prosjekt.
EQui-T er et internasjonalt samarbeidsprosjekt som fokuserer på utvikling og deling av åpne inkluderende læringsressurser (Open Educational Resources - OER). I dette prosjektet ønsker vi å utvikle og formidle kunnskap om det å finne, lage og dele innovative, høykvalitets (og teknologistøttede) ressurser for inkluderende undervisning.
Prosjektstart: Juni 2023 – Juni 2026
Prosjektmedlemmer: Fazilat Siddiq, Anna Steen-Utheim (2023-25), Liv Lofthus (2023-25), Caroline Cruaud, Cecilie Kristoffersen
Jeu, play & games: translating Henriot as a means of understanding the meaning of ‘jeu'
This project uses the collaborative translation of Henriot’s “Le jeu” to explore the concept of jeu and its English counterparts play and games. Through translation, dialogue, and self-reflection, the project members document their journey into Henriot's text and its philosophical meanings.
Project start: Autumn 2024
Project members: Caroline Cruaud, Laura Barclay (University of Portsmouth, UK)
Valg av Digitale Læringsressurser for undervisning (VaDiLæR)
I denne studien ønsker vi å lære mer om hvordan norske lærere søker etter digitale ressurser til deres undervisning og hvordan de vurderer kvaliteten på det de finner.
Prosjektstart: Juni 2025
Prosjektmedlemmer: Fazilat Siddiq, Caroline Cruaud, Cecilie Kristoffersen
Learner Autonomy in Virtual Exchange COIL (LAViE)
This study investigates students’ potential emergence and development of learner autonomy when working within a virtual exchange COIL module, through the analysis of students’ logbooks and focus group interviews.
Project start: Autumn 2025
Project member: Caroline Cruaud
KLAR2030 (Ready2030)
Research-based project exploring the structure and content of general programs in upper secondary school and the transition and connections between general programs and higher education. Owner of the project is NIFU and partner is UiO.
Project period: 2025-2027
Project member: Anniken Hotvedt Sundby
Completed projects
Escape games for learning
This project was a collaboration between a learning technology company and USN with fundings from the Norwegian Research Council FORREGION program. The goal of the project was to investigate the learning potential of escape games. Report.
Project timeline: 2020 – 2021
Project members: Caroline Cruaud, Eirik Brazier, Liv Lofthus.
