The scientific goal of the group is to expand empirical knowledge and theoretical insights regarding cultural, linguistic and religious complexity, to produce new knowledge on how pre-school, school and teacher education could respond appropriately to a diverse children- and student group, and to develop research-based knowledge on intercultural awareness in education.
Diversity in Education
Diversity in Education (DivE) is an interdisciplinary research group, focusing on contemporary processes of cultural, linguistic and religious diversification and their relevance in the field of education.
- Established:
- 2016
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Education
- Academic discipline:
- Upbringing and education
The research group. (Photo: DIVE)
What we research
Our research is responding to the education system's need for research-based competence on issues related to cultural, linguistic and religious diversity in education. Through our research, we contribute to the development of multicultural pedagogy as a field of research in Norway, as well as to contribute to international research on diversity in education.
More about the research group
DivE consists of 15 members from the Faculty of Education at University of Inland Norway, representing the subjects of pedagogy, religious education, and social sciences.
Read more about our latest activities in our latest newsletters:
Current project
- Multicultural school and community events in a participant perspective
- Sustaining National Minorities in Education: Kven/Norwegian Finnish and Forest Finnish Experiences and Needs in Mainstream Schools (NAMED)
Publications
10 recent publications from DivE:
Anne Grethe Kjelling and Ole Kolbjørn Kjørven: Katolikker og muslimers erfaringer med trosopplæring og KRLE-faget. Hva kan KRLE-lærere lære av religiøse minoriteters perspektiver?
Vander Tavares and Shahrzad Nouri: Raciolinguistic constructions of immigrants: linguistic deficit, racialized professions, and foreignness in a Norwegian language textbook
Thor-André Skrefsrud: Dismantling the majority gaze: Student teachers’ intercultural experiences with museum collaborations in teacher education
Jonas Yassin Iversen, Ann-Cathrin Faldet, Thor-André Skrefsrud and Hege Somby: Conceptualising ‘learning barriers’ in educational research: a scientific concept analysis
Rannveig Beito Svendby: ‘Process inclusion’: Defining and introducing an intentionally process-centered approach for teachers in higher education
Rannveig Beito Svendby: A Qualitative Study on the Impact of Collegial Relationships on Doctoral Degree Completion: The Perspective of PhD Students in a Norwegian Context
Vander Tavares and Sílvia Melo-Pfeifer: Empowerment and Tension: EFL Student Teachers’ Professional Identity Development from a Trans-Speakerism Perspective
Hildegunn Valen Kleive, Synnøve Markeng, Marianne Friisberg Larssen, Marta Bivand Erdal and Vebjørn L. Horsfjord: Exploring Muslim and Catholic Faith Education in Norway. Transnational Ties, Role Modeling, and Socialization
Anne Grethe Kjelling: Spaces for Expression in Mosque-Based Education. The Perspective of Young Muslims
Ole Kolbjørn Kjørven: Compulsory Religious Education in Norwegian Public Schools. Religious Minority Experiences
Conferences and events
Forest Finnish Forum 1 December 2025
Guest lectures on multilingualism 30 May 2025
Contact the research group
Leaders
Professor
- thor.skrefsrud@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 51 78 98
Professor
- jonas.iversen@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 59 79 55
Members
- Hege Merete Somby
- Kristin Skinstad van der Kooij
- Ole Kolbjørn Kjørven
- Rannveig Beito Svendby
- Vander Tavares
- Synnøve Markeng
- Lana Amro
- Anne Grethe Kjelling
- Hanne Høglind
- Shahrzad Nouri
- Juliane Killerud Bekkevold
- Anders Aschim (Associate member)
- Prisca Bruno Massao (Associate member)
- Hanne Riese (Associate member)
- Kari Nes (Associate member)
- Inger Mokkelbost Haug (Associate member)
- Bente Ovedie Skogvang (Associate member)
- Professor Joke Dewilde, UiO (External member)
- Associate Professor Kristin Gregers Eriksen, USN (External member)
- Assistant Professor Shpresa Basha, OsloMet (External member)
- Associate Professor Danelle Du Plessis, HVL (External member)