STSM on experiences of teachers in Norway regarding migrant students and religious diversity
Senior lecturer Dr. Michelle Attard Tonna (University of Malta) visited the University of Inland Norway, Department of Social Sciences, Religion and Ethics, during her Short-Term Scientific Mission funded by EU project COST Action COREnet.
Michelle’s research aimed to explore the experiences of teachers in Norway regarding migrant students and religious diversity, as well as the implications for teacher education. The findings will be compared with similar experiences reported by teachers in Malta, providing a broader understanding of educational practices in diverse contexts.
The study aims to provide insights into the lived experiences of teachers working with migrant and religiously diverse students. The effectiveness of current teacher education practices in addressing these challenges will be explored and recommendations for improving teacher training programmes to enhance inclusivity will be provided.
The main findings of this study are based on in-depth interviews with four teacher educators from the host institution in Norway, who shared valuable insights into the socio-political context of their country and its impact on education. They reflected on how the national curriculum addresses religious and cultural diversity, and discussed both the limitations and opportunities it presents in fostering inclusive education. Through their personal experiences as teachers and teacher educators, they highlighted key challenges such as addressing unconscious bias, supporting refugee and migrant students, and navigating tensions around secularism and religion in the classroom.
At the same time, they pointed to good practices, including the use of reflective teaching strategies, open dialogue, and inclusive pedagogies that promote mutual understanding. The interviewees expressed a strong belief in their potential to influence future teachers by embedding values of equity and inclusion in their training programs. Additionally, a seminar held with departmental staff provided further depth, sparking a rich discussion on how diversity is approached in both Norwegian and Maltese schools.
The combination of interviews and the seminar contributed to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the educational landscape in Norway, which will now be compared with corresponding data from Malta to identify commonalities, differences, and opportunities for cross-contextual learning. The final aim is to write a peer-reviewed paper to be submitted in an academic journal.
What is a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) within COREnet?
A Short-Term Scientific Mission, funded by the COST Action COREnet, consists of a visit to a host organization located in a different country to the country of affiliation of a Researcher in order to carry out specific work as part of a research project. In addition to research purposes, Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are aimed to support researchers’ individual mobility, to strengthen existing networks and to foster collaboration between individuals. The purpose of a STSM is thus to gain new partnerships, to learn new techniques and to gain access to specific data, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions/organizations.
