Research projects
List of previous projects at the bottom of the page.
Digital transformation in society and education. During the last years, my research on job-competence has addressed the opportunities and challenges of technology development on competence issue in working life ("digital competence"). Examples are the Nordplus projects "Curriculum in kindergarten? Language learning and use of ICT with small children" (CHILDICT, 2012-2013) and "Promoting learning and development in multisensory environments with assistive technology solutions" (SPEDUTECH, 2014-2016). The topic was also included in the PIAAC data analyses in the SkillsREAL project.
Current projects:
2020-2023: "No teacher educator left behind (NOTELEB)" - Erasmus+ Strategic partnership for the development of innovation/Higher Education (2020-1-NO01-KA203-076495). Project leader & coordinator. Partners: TUB/Germany, Tallinn University/ Estonia, University of Jyvaskyla/Finland, NTNU/Norway.
2020-2023: "Digital competence in teacher training in the Nordic countries" - Nordplus (NPHE-2020/10184). Project leader. Coordinator: University of Stavanger (NO). Partners: University College Copenhagen (DK), Tallinn University (EE), University of Jyvaskyla (FI), University of Iceland (IS), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL/NO), NTNU (NO), Linnaeus University (SE).
Job-competence - skills, knowledge and attitudes. The first projects were carried out in private sector enterprises, in a large EU FW4 project Working Life Changes and Training of Older Workers (WORKTOW, 1997-2001) and a collaboration project Competence Management CM ProWork Transfer (2008-2010) with Fraunhofer Institute (coord.). Later, several projects were related to the school-reform in the primary and secondary levels in Norway, "Kunnskapsløftet" ("Knowledge Promotion"). One large project was also an evaluation of the "Mobbemanifest 2002-2004" ("The Manifesto Against Bullying"). Another project with this focus, "Regional learning network and competence development at schools in Rogaland" (2005-2007), examined the relationship between knowledge management and school improvement. More recently, a Nordplus-project "Promoting client-centred competence building" (ProCompetence, 2012-2013), led by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, aimed at enhancing teachers' and students’ competence towards service-design approach in collaboration with working life.
Participation in job-related lifelong learning. To explore this problematic, I have used large databases, such as the annual Adult Education Survey in Finland in the 1990s, and OECD' PIAAC Survey more recently. In the large project "Skills development for realizing the workforce competence reserve" (SkillsREAL, 2013-2017), financed by the Norwegian Research Council, most of the analyses were based on PIAAC, focusing on the Norwegian data, but also including comparisons across four Nordic countries.
Learning and innovation. The connection between learning and innovation has been an increasing area of interest in my research since about 2005. The work by Åke Uhlin, among others, starting from his article "The concept of learning in the systems of innovation approaches" and Bengt-Åke Lundvall's concept of innovations systems and learning economy were my early inspiration. An example of projects in this area is "Project-based learning" (2007-2009), looking at competence and innovations development in a university-industry-research cooperation, carried out in IRIS, in connection to Stanford University and the University of Stavanger.
Skills development and maintenance against workforce ageing. The context to this research is the demographic change and its consequences in/for working life and skills development/obsolence. I have often used an age-limit 45+ - and as often I have been posed a question about such a low number. Indeed, this is not a easy definition to make without falling to the trap of over-generalising - in particular as such perceptions and perspectives change over time. The age limit became to be so low, because my work in this area started in the midst of the severe economic recession of the 1990's in Finland. At that time, if you were unemployed and over 45 years, you had little chance of getting a job on the hard-hit labour market. Besides, older workers' protective legislation, as often was the case, did not stop employers from quitting them if needed, often on the basis of their job competence (as shown in Alan Walkers studies in the 1990s). In early days, I found, among others, Per-Erik Ellström's work from the "competence-in-use" -perspective very inspiring.
List of research projects
- 2020: "Future-oriented and pedagogic use of AR-technology and D-modelling in schools." (Framtidsrettet og pedagogisk bruk av AR-teknologi og 3D-modellering i grunnskolen) ? Regional Research Fund, Oslo (RFF Oslo). Coordination: Ludenso. Partner: University of Stavanger.
- 2020: "Impact of public authorities and educational technology on development of professional digital competence in teacher education and schools" - The University and College Network for Western Norway (UH-Nett Vest). Project coordinator. Collaboration with NLA University College, University of Bergen, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), and Volda University College.
- "Skills development for realizing the workforce competence reserve (SkillsREAL)” (2014-2017). Project Coordinator & Leader. Partners University of Stavanger, Int’l Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS) from Norway, and four int’l partners from Finland, Sweden and Australia. Programme for Educational Research (Utdanning 2020), Norwegian Research Council (grant 7.3 MNOK)
- School leadership and knowledge management: Use-value of quality assessments [Skoleledelse og kunnskapsledelse (SKOGL): Bruksverdi av kvalitetsvurdering]. Seed-money for generating a larger research project targeted to Research Council’s calls ‘PRAKUT’ and ‘Utdanning 2020’. UH Nett Vest, Desember 2010. Cooperation project between University Colleges in Stord/Haugesund (HSH), in Volda and in Sogn og Fjordane.
- CM ProWork Transfer project on competence management, an Innovation Transfer project under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme/European Commission, 2008-2010. Coordinator: Fraunhofer Institute (IAO), Germany. Responsible researcher in Norway.
- R&D School project “Les for livet!”[“Reading for life”] for the Suldal municipality, Norway 2008-2010. Responsible researcher & “competence partner”/organisational perspective. Financing: Municipality of Suldal – with a support from the School Development Program, Norwegian Board of Education under the Norwegian school reform “Knowledge Promotion”/Kunnskapsløftet 2005-2008.
- Project-based learning. Competence and innovations development in a university-industry-research cooperation. 2007-2009. Co-researcher/Project leader Arild Øystein/IRIS. Seabed Rig. Petromaks/The Norwegian Research Council.
- Training Older Persons - Pioneer Model Usable For Older Adult Trainers (TOP+) 2008-2010. Norwegian Partner. Coordinator Teresa Almeida Pinto, Academia José Moreira Da Silva Da Cooperativa De, Estudos De Economia Social CRL Portugal. Euros 468.000. A Leonardo da Vinci –project/European Commission.
- Teaching about religious diversity in schools. Applying and developing an interpretive cultural approach to religious education. 2006-2009. Co-researcher with Ass. Prof. Geir Skeie (project manager) the University of Stavanger. Total budget 4.64 MNOK. PRAKUT/Norwegian Research Council.
- Active ageing in working life ACTIVAGE. 2006-2007. Seed Money for building new international proposal. 100.000 NOK. A total of 12 partners (+ IRIS) from 7 countries (+ Norway). NordForsk, Nordiske Ministerrådet. Project Co-ordinator.
- Regional learning network and competence development at schools in Rogaland 2005-2007(8) (RELFUS). Focus on competence development among school leaders and teachers in relation with the new Norwegian school reform, “Kunnskapsløftet”. Project Manager and Responsible Scientist. Sandnes Kommune.
- Ageing and health in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (Aldring og helse på sokkelen – brukerstyrt innovasjonsprosjekt), 2003-2006. Co-researcher, responsible for research on competence development. Norwegian Research Council.
- Evaluation of the ‘Manifesto against bullying’, 2003-2004. Project Manager and Responsible Scientist. Funded by the Norwegian Board of Education (Læringssenteret/Utdanningsdirektoratet).
- International Comparative Research on Women’s Lifelong Learning. 2001-2003/2004. Co-researcher, responsible for the Norwegian part, jointly with Dr. Tove Steen Olsen – involved until October 2002. Countries involved Japan, Korea, USA and Norway. Funding from the Ministry of Education and Science in Japan .The National Institute for Educational Policy Research & National Women’s Education Centre of Japan (NWEC).
- Working Life Changes and Training of Older Workers (WORKTOW). 1997-2000/2001. Project Coordinator & responsible scientist and Project Manager for Finland. Partners were the Universities of Lancaster, Keele (UK), and Jyväskylä (Finland), and the Work Research Institute and Norwegian Social Research in Norway. DGXII, European Union (TSER, IV Framework).
- Ikääntyvien työntekijöiden työssä oppiminen (IKÄOPPI) [Older workers and learning at work] 1998-2000. Responsible scientist. Ministry of Education and National Age Programme, Finland. 1998-2002.
- Evaluation of the FOVUs grant. Nordic Council of Ministries & NVI. Chief investigator jointly with Dr. Liv Finbak. Spring 2000.
- Små- og mellomstore bedrifters samhandlingsrelasjoner til kursarrangører (2000-2002) [The cooperation relationship of small and medium sized companies with training providers]. Norwegian Research Council & NVI. Co-investigator. Responsible scientist cand. polit. (Master of Social Sciences) Ingmunn Eidskrem.
- Työkunto- project [A project on age, health and job-competence in working life].A multidisciplinary developmental work research project, 1997-1999. Designer, member of the Steering Group, co-researcher, consultant and trainer. A joint project of the Department of Education, Department of Health Sciences & Continuing Education Centre, University of Jyväskylä. European Social Fund. Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Competence and Training of Older Workers, 1997-98. An action research project. Co-investigator, a researcher member in an expert group. EuroWork Age - DGV, European Union.
- Työllistymisen ehdot ja osaaminen (TEHO) [Job-competence and conditions for employability] 1997 - 2000. Responsible scientist. University of Jyväskylä & the Union of Technical Employees, Finland.
- Older Workers in the Nordic Countries. 1996-1997. Responsible scientist. EuroWork Age Network - DGV, European Union.
- Koulutus ja ikääntyvä työväestö (KIT) [Training and ageing workforce], 1995-99. Responsible scientist. University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Eläkkeelle siirtyminen ja eläkkeelle valmennus (KOUGERO), 1989-1996. Main researcher. The Academy of Finland (The Finnish Research Council) & University of Jyväskylä.
Project with development & innovation
2014-2016 Promoting learning and development in multisensory environments with assistive technology solutions (SPEDUTEC). Project leader. Consortium: 8 partners from four countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Horizontal, Nordic Council.
2014-2016 Utvikling av felles nordisk studiemodul for førskolelærerutdanningen: læring av naturfagbegreper hos barnehagebarn (NATGREP2). Co-worker (medarbeider). Project Leader Dr. Merete Økland Sortland, University College Stord/Haugesund (HSH). Consortium: 5 partners from five countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council.
2012-2014 “Promoting competence building in Service Design through Touch-points (PRO-COMPETENCE)”. Leader for the Norwegian Partner HSH. Consortium: 4 partners from four countries (Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden), coordinated from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council. Budget ca 1.28 MNOK (0.16 MEuro). Grant 50%: ca. 0.6 MNOK (EUROs 80.000).
2012-2014 ”Aren’t we all special? – How to meet the educational needs of all children in the classroom? Competence, procedures and attitudes in a multi-actor and cross-sector regional perspective” (SPEDUREG). Project leader. Consortium: 9 partners from four countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway). NORDPLUS Horizontal, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.960 MNOK (EUROs 120.000). Grant 50%.
2012-2013 “Curriculum in kindergarten? Language learning and use of ICT with small children (CHILDICT)”. Project leader. Consortium: 11 partners from five countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Horizontal, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.8 MNOK (ca. EUROs 100.000). Grant 50%.
2011-2013 Utvikling av felles nordisk studiemodul for førskolelærerutdanningen: læring av naturfagbegreper hos barnehagebarn (NATGREP). Quality Assurer. Project Leader Dr. Merete Økland Sortland, University College Stord/Haugesund (HSH). Consortium: 5 partners from five countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.448 MNOK (EUROs 56.000)
2009 Keeping on Track project under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme/European Commission, 2009. Coordinator: University of Iceland. A sub-contracted expert together with Alfonso Alvares Lafuento, Spain, to carry out an evaluation of a selected number of “best practice” of Leonardo, Socrates and EQUAL projects under the EC Lifelong Learning Programme.
2006-2008 & 2009-2011 Older workers in the Nordic Countries(OWN). A network project with thematic research tasks. Supported by the Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL) under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The network has produced two reports Active Learning and Ageing at Work: New visions and opportunities for older workers in the Nordic countries (Tikkanen, T. et al. 2008) and Social Partners: out with early exit – in with lifelong learning and career development? (Tikkanen, T. et al. 20011). The latter reports is based on a new Nordic empirical study .
2007 Promoting active ageing at the workplace: Inclusion of older (45+) workers in innovation and development. Proposal preparation support (Prosjektetableringsstøtte, PES) for 7FP/EU, Norwegian Research Council/NFR. 75.000 NOK.
2004-2007 Older workers (45+) and lifelong learning. A research network (Moderator & Project Coordinator) and a publication project. The first book T. Tikkanen & B. Nyhan (Eds.) Promotion of lifelong learning for older workers – an international overview published in 2006. The second book T. Tikkanen & B. Nyhan (Eds.) Innovative learning measures for older workers CEDEFOP/EU, published in 2008.
2004-2005 Vocational Education and Training and mature competence in enterprises (VADMACE), jointly with the Rogaland Training and Education Centre. 2004-2005. Project manager. LEONARDO-programme, DG for Education and Culture, EU. EU financing about Euros 22.800.
2004-2005 Distance learning, virtual college and university courses - How do we want to do IT? (DIVIRGIT) Network, jointly with the Rogaland Training and Education Centre. Coordinator. Nordic Council of Ministries. 200.000 NOK for 2004-2005
2003-2006 ”Seniorer, hva nå – skal jeg bli skal jeg gå?” A development project with the Rogaland County. The assignment in the pilot-project is to develop life-span oriented personnel policy in two participating schools. Rogaland County. 300.000 NOK (about Euros 35.000).
2014-2016 Utvikling av felles nordisk studiemodul for førskolelærerutdanningen: læring av naturfagbegreper hos barnehagebarn (NATGREP2). Co-worker (medarbeider). Project Leader Dr. Merete Økland Sortland, University College Stord/Haugesund (HSH). Consortium: 5 partners from five countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council.
2012-2014 “Promoting competence building in Service Design through Touch-points (PRO-COMPETENCE)”. Leader for the Norwegian Partner HSH. Consortium: 4 partners from four countries (Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden), coordinated from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council. Budget ca 1.28 MNOK (0.16 MEuro). Grant 50%: ca. 0.6 MNOK (EUROs 80.000).
2012-2014 ”Aren’t we all special? – How to meet the educational needs of all children in the classroom? Competence, procedures and attitudes in a multi-actor and cross-sector regional perspective” (SPEDUREG). Project leader. Consortium: 9 partners from four countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway). NORDPLUS Horizontal, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.960 MNOK (EUROs 120.000). Grant 50%.
2012-2013 “Curriculum in kindergarten? Language learning and use of ICT with small children (CHILDICT)”. Project leader. Consortium: 11 partners from five countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Horizontal, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.8 MNOK (ca. EUROs 100.000). Grant 50%.
2011-2013 Utvikling av felles nordisk studiemodul for førskolelærerutdanningen: læring av naturfagbegreper hos barnehagebarn (NATGREP). Quality Assurer. Project Leader Dr. Merete Økland Sortland, University College Stord/Haugesund (HSH). Consortium: 5 partners from five countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden). NORDPLUS Higher Education, Nordic Council. Budget ca. 0.448 MNOK (EUROs 56.000)
2009 Keeping on Track project under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme/European Commission, 2009. Coordinator: University of Iceland. A sub-contracted expert together with Alfonso Alvares Lafuento, Spain, to carry out an evaluation of a selected number of “best practice” of Leonardo, Socrates and EQUAL projects under the EC Lifelong Learning Programme.
2006-2008 & 2009-2011 Older workers in the Nordic Countries(OWN). A network project with thematic research tasks. Supported by the Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL) under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The network has produced two reports Active Learning and Ageing at Work: New visions and opportunities for older workers in the Nordic countries (Tikkanen, T. et al. 2008) and Social Partners: out with early exit – in with lifelong learning and career development? (Tikkanen, T. et al. 20011). The latter reports is based on a new Nordic empirical study .
2007 Promoting active ageing at the workplace: Inclusion of older (45+) workers in innovation and development. Proposal preparation support (Prosjektetableringsstøtte, PES) for 7FP/EU, Norwegian Research Council/NFR. 75.000 NOK.
2004-2007 Older workers (45+) and lifelong learning. A research network (Moderator & Project Coordinator) and a publication project. The first book T. Tikkanen & B. Nyhan (Eds.) Promotion of lifelong learning for older workers – an international overview published in 2006. The second book T. Tikkanen & B. Nyhan (Eds.) Innovative learning measures for older workers CEDEFOP/EU, published in 2008.
2004-2005 Vocational Education and Training and mature competence in enterprises (VADMACE), jointly with the Rogaland Training and Education Centre. 2004-2005. Project manager. LEONARDO-programme, DG for Education and Culture, EU. EU financing about Euros 22.800.
2004-2005 Distance learning, virtual college and university courses - How do we want to do IT? (DIVIRGIT) Network, jointly with the Rogaland Training and Education Centre. Coordinator. Nordic Council of Ministries. 200.000 NOK for 2004-2005
2003-2006 ”Seniorer, hva nå – skal jeg bli skal jeg gå?” A development project with the Rogaland County. The assignment in the pilot-project is to develop life-span oriented personnel policy in two participating schools. Rogaland County. 300.000 NOK (about Euros 35.000).