.jpg)
1) What is your current position?
I work at the Norwegian Centre for ICT in Education here in Oslo. The Centre falls under the authority of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and as such has a mission to implement government policy when it comes to information and communication technology (ICT) in all areas of education The main objective of the Centre’s work is to improve the quality of teaching and learning for everyone – from kindergartens to higher education.
2) What do you do in your present job?
My formal title is adviser in the Department for kindergartens and teacher education. As a project manager I primarily work on the development of the ICT competency framework for Norwegian teachers and ICT policy in teacher education in general. Besides that I am a member of the test team here at the Centre whose main task is to develop national tests in digital skills for pupils in elementary schools. I also participate in an international project that promotes digital literacy, digital citizenship and international cooperation among schools, and I work as an editorial assistant in the Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy.
3) What was the subject of your thesis?
The subject of my thesis was integration of ICT into teacher education. I compared two teacher education institutions in order to find out about enablers and obstacles when it comes to student teachers’ use of ICT at their universities and in schools where they had practice.
4) In what terms has your CIE master helped you in getting where you are today?
One of the most important factors for my employment was the insight into ICT in teacher education I have from a comparative and international angle. Unfortunately there are not many CIE students interested in this topic although this field is rapidly developing in education worldwide. My choice certainly contributed to getting a position easier since they were looking for someone with not only national but also a broad international perspective on technology in education.
5) Are there any specific topics/methods taught to you during the programme that are relevant in your current position?
Although the program did not have a separate course that was focused on issues around ICT in education I certainly benefited from it. One of the most relevant things that I learned was how to independently write a solid project proposal, conduct a fieldwork and write a research paper about it. It is quite important to underline here that the program invests a lot of effort into finding the best possible supervisor for each student in order to get him or her on the right track when it comes to writing the thesis. Other types of knowledge and skills that I got from courses on research methods, international education policy and educational theory are applied on a daily basis in my work. In addition, practical knowledge about how international organizations function helps me a lot when I meet experts from UNESCO, OECD and European commission.
6) Why did you choose the CIE programme?
I already had background in education when I found out about this program and I thought that a master’s degree in CIE might broaden my career possibilities. One of the main advantages of this interdisciplinary program is that it offers freedom when it comes to choosing the topic of your master thesis as well as conducting the fieldwork. Besides, the program sounded appealing because of its international nature, and opportunities to study with colleagues and learn from teachers that came from different countries.
7) Where do you see yourself career wise in the future?
I would like to continue working on issues around ICT in education. My current position offers possibilities to meet and learn from international experts in my field on all levels. My goal is to contribute to better pedagogical integration of ICT into teaching and help teachers perceive technology in the classroom as an advantage and not as a threat.
8) Any additional comments you may have for future applicants to the CIE programme are welcome.
The amount of time and efforts you invest into your studies pays off eventually. Grades in your final transcript might have a crucial role in getting you the dream job as well as recommendations you might get from your teachers. Use this time to bond with your colleagues; to build an international, social and cultural capital that might help you direct your career there you want it to be. But first and foremost, use this opportunity to explore and discover about yourself and about the world your colleagues and friends come from. Some of the lifelong friendships will certainly be established here.