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PED3611

Education - History, Policy and Governance

Choose study year
Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

The course examines central national education reforms after World War II, their ideological basis, content and realization. The national education reforms will be analysed in elucidation of its ideological, political and social context - nationally and internationally. Educational governance is a key element. This means identification and analysis of participants, governing principles and strategies in educational reforms, internationally as well as nationally and locally. The relationships between transnational, national and municipal power and local autonomy are discussed. Analyses of governance in education emphasize curricula, management by objectives, quality assurance, and evaluation. The course also focuses on school culture, the school as a learning organization, the latitude of schools and teachers, the role of the teacher and educational leadership.

Learning outcome

The course gives indepth knowledge and theoretical understanding of:

  • The development of the Norwegian education system in recent times, with special emphasis on primary and secondary education.
  • The ideological and political background for the most central education policy reforms.
  • How governing and management strategies apply to the education field on international, national and municipal levels.
  • The school as an organization, school administration, school development and the role of the teacher.
  • The design and function of curricula.
  • Different systems and principles of quality assurance and assessment.
  • Legal principles and systems of agreements in education.

School exams, guidance seminars and term papers provide the opportunity to apply knowledge and theoretical insight in the discussion and analysis of central issues and self-selected topics. A term paper as a form of assessment provides the opportunity for deepening and practice in carrying out independent scientific work.

Learning methods and activities

The subject has an hourly resource of 84 hours of teaching which is distributed between lectures, seminars and excursions for up to 6 hours a week in the first part of the semester and in the second part of the semester with group and individual guidance in connection with the final semester assignment. Lectures and seminars can be booked. The students participate in the preparation of the course's assessment criteria. Check Blackboard at the start of the semester for further information on compulsory activities. The teaching plan and guidelines/requirements for the term paper are published well in advance of the start of the term.

Compulsory assignments

  • Participation in workshops
  • Two-Three written short assignments on Blackboard

Further on evaluation

4-hour written school exam in mid-October. The term paper must be 8-10 pages long (Times New Roman 12 pt., line spacing 1.5). The subject of the assignment must be approved by the subject supervisor. The deadline for submitting the term paper is given at the start of the term.

Compulsory activities

• Participation in a guidance seminar

• Two or three smaller written submissions on Blackboard in connection with the guidance seminars

Repetition/improvement of grade

In the event of a failure or wish to improve the grade, the individual partial assessment can be taken up.

Required previous knowledge

The same admission requirements as for the master's program in Education. The requirement must be fullfilled to be admitted to the course

Course materials

The course has a core reading material of approximately 400 pages, in addition to elective reading material of around 600 pages from a specified list. The e-learning platform blackboard will be used actively.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
PED3510 7.5 sp Autumn 2015
PED3521 15 sp Autumn 2015
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Education
  • Pedagogics
  • Social Sciences

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Education and Lifelong Learning

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 40/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.
Assignment
Weighting 60/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 40/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.
Assignment
Weighting 60/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment