The development towards a more interwoven world is relentless, but with increased depletion of resources and greater disparity in living conditions, we are in the Anthropocene era.
Society is therefore facing two major and related challenges: poverty/inequality and the nature and climate crisis. The thematic area includes research that aims to obtain critical empirical knowledge related to these challenges.
This includes a broad spectrum of research topics: globalisation and global distribution, power and inequality at the local and international levels, resource use and management, environment and nature, technology, policy and forms of government, conflicts and migration, and education in and dissemination of such knowledge.
To understand the world today, we have to know the history that brought us here. In history of religion, ideas and science, the lines are multifaceted and diverging. Our common history can be told in different ways depending on where we come from, who we are and the influences we have been exposed to.
Being familiar with different perspectives and the foundation of the ideas, forms of society and norms that exist today is essential to developing a critical understanding of the globalised world we now live in.
Important research topics for this area:
- environmental problems in the Global South seen in light of local and international power relations
- increased inequality and its impact on individuals and society
- education in other countries, especially the Global South, in a critical and comparative perspective
- Education for sustainable development (ESD), with a particular focus on concepts like ‘global citizens’ and ‘global citizenship’ and associated normative requirements for international equality and justice.
- the Norwegian school system’s attempts at handling the ethical dilemmas relating to Norway’s ambiguous environmental role
- research and development projects on digital interaction and virtual exchange to combat inequality and raise awareness of inequality
- sustainability in the vocational subjects, schools and kindergartens
- the Sustainable Development Goals in a communication perspective
Thematic research areas at the Faculty of Education and International Studies
Global understanding, diversity and sustainable societies is one of the thematic research areas at the Faculty of Education and International Studies.
Here is an overview of all the thematic research areas at the faculty.
