Dear Colleagues,

TF is a visible, energetic and creative faculty! I continue to be inspired by colleagues whose commitments to teaching and pedagogical development sustain and nourish our teaching and learning environment. We are busy rebuilding the long awaited campus-life – and we do this, in my view, with a generosity that enables a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant community of scholars and students.

Nina Hoel. Foto

At the same time, we do not completely leave behind our newfound skills pertaining to digital teaching and learning. TF has successfully secured another externally funded grant from HK-dir to roll out the project ADAPT. In many ways ADAPT can be seen as a continuation of our solid and strenuous work pertaining to pedagogical development in our study programmes. ADAPT will focus on developing a flexible study program for those who choose the road of ministry as their second career. In collaboration with Nidaros diocese, we will over a period of 4 years explore and develop digital and hybrid solutions that can serve our students from near and far.

On building learning environments

Also this semester we were fortunate to be able to take our first year students to Granavolden G?stgiveri. The trip to Granavolden intends to build an inclusive learning environment for our students, for students to develop community and establish a sense of belonging. This year, the Religion and Society seminar focused on a case study engaging NRKs Kvelden f?r kvelden and Festen etter fasten. The students were to engage the relationships between religion, politics, the media and publics, while also paying careful attention to lived religion approaches and positioning. For our students in the theology programme, the Eucharist was the central theme. Students were to engage Biblical texts about ritual meals, ritual theory and the theology of the Eucharist. A big thank you to all our academic and administrative staff who made invaluable contributions (yet again!) and to our seminar teachers whose presence and insights importantly contribute to our common building project.

On student well-being

Importantly, the 10 October we marked the World Mental Health Day, a day that focus our attention towards global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. Also this year, the University of Oslo decided to dedicate a whole week (10-14 Oct.) to focus attention on mental health with particular attention to the number of challenges that has global consequences: the pandemic, war, the climate crisis, and the refugee crisis. The main theme for 2022 was “We need each other. Life your gaze!” and our Faculty hosted together with the Faculty of Humanities an event on this topic. The event consisted of a panel conversation that raised the important topic of loneliness – how is it experienced and the responsibility of building communities that are inclusive. The panel was facilitated by our very own Dean, Aud T?nnessen, and consisted of Tuva Fellman (TV and radio host), Eirik Welo (IFIKK), and our student of theology, Peter Lund Bullen.

On knowledge dissemination

Every year the University of Oslo hosts one day packed with academic lectures that are meant to inspire teachers (faglig-pedagogisk dag). This year, our Faculty are giving three lectures – all of which showcase TFs excellence in terms of quality and innovation in research. At the same time, all three lectures are noticeably developed in such a way so as to address concerns and challenges that teachers of religion in schools experience. Tonje Baugerud starts us off with a lecture on “A decolonial perspective on the curricula in KRLE and religion and ethics: positionality, reflexivity and power”. In her lecture, she problematizes the central elements of the curricula and provides tools for teachers to think with and through when engaging these elements in the “neutral” classroom. Next up, Serena Baldari engages the topic of “Sacred texts in religion education”. In her lecture, she presents three methods (the issue of nuance, critical assessment of curricula, and reflection) that support but also challenge the curricula in religion education. The final lecture is given by Amina Selimovic. She speaks on the topic of “Non-Muslim Islam and non-Muslim Islamic Authorities”. In her lecture she problematizes the use of “diversity” (mangfold) in the curricula and complicates the central perspective on diversity by critically assessing the various ways in which non-Muslim Islam and non-Muslim Islamic authorities inform curricula development and, as a consequence, teaching practices.

In closing then, undoubtedly, our Faculty contributes to knowledge dissemination that is more than just “interesting”; with our research and through our gifted educators, we address critical social issues and expand the knowledge of the communities we inhabit in ways that enable critical thinking and nuanced reflection.

Onwards, onwards!

Av Nina Hoel
Publisert 4. nov. 2022 09:59 - Sist endret 27. feb. 2024 13:45