Education, Marginalization and Values (EMV) – Promoting social responsibility through educational formation
Led by Professor Solveig M. Reindal, the EMV research group works to unite social responsibility and human formation. Within a Christian-humanistic value base, we investigate how education can actively contribute to building a more just, inclusive, and reflective society. We understand formation not only as the acquisition of knowledge, but as a holistic process in which both students and teachers develop character, ethical judgment, and social responsibility.
Our Core Commitment: Responsibility for the Marginalized
We focus on:
- Inclusive education: Developing theories and practices that ensure schools and kindergartens are places where all children belong.
- Trauma-informed pedagogy: Understanding and addressing the consequences of displacement and crises for learning (e.g., Ukrainian refugee schools).
- Global education justice: Collaborating with institutions in Rwanda, Albania, and Kosovo to strengthen teacher education and support fragile education systems.
Important research projects as acts of social responsibility
A key initiative that specifically reflects our focus on education is the project "Edifying Examples". This ongoing art and education database provides teachers and adults with a curated collection of films, images, literature and music, which serves as a concrete resource in educational work. The goal is to build an archive of material that stimulates reflection on social responsibility and education. By working with these artistic expressions, teachers gain a tool to create meaningful conversations about values, ethics and our collective responsibility for the rising generation – and in this way make education a living process in various educational contexts.
The database is publicly available at: https://oppbyggeligeeksempler.no
Theoretical foundations: Education through critical dialogue
Our research is based on a deep foundation in philosophical traditions, from Kierkegaard's existentialism to critical theory. This ensures that our work with education is not simplified, but involves critical self-reflection and challenging established assumptions. This is expressed, among other things, in our publication projects, such as the upcoming special issue "Søren Kierkegaard as educator in a post-secular age" and the anthology "Social Responsibility, Virtue and Character Formation in a Diverse World."
Conclusion: A community for responsible practice
With 21 members – including 6 professors and 6 PhD candidates – EMV functions as a community dedicated to both research and practical realization of social responsibility. Through strong national and international networks, practice-based projects and high-level research publications, we seek to help shape learning environments that promote human dignity, diversity and the common good.
