Background and experience
I work as an associate professor at the University of Agder, where I also serve as Assistant Head of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with responsibility for innovation and societal engagement/outreach. Together with Associate Professor Tobias Scholz, I am the founder of FLARE (Future Lab for Research in Academic Esports), which I also lead. In addition, I initiated and developed the international bachelor’s degree program in Academic Esports, for which I currently serve as Program Leader.
My professional background is as a K–12 teacher, with experience from both primary and upper secondary education before transitioning to higher education. I have more than 25 years of experience working with game-based learning and game didactics, with a particular focus on engaging young people at risk of social exclusion. This work led to the development of the Lærelyst methodology—an instructional role-playing approach specifically aligned with national curricula—and resulted in the publication of five books on game-based learning and pedagogy.
Within higher education, I have taught selected courses in engineering programs before moving to the Department of ICT, focusing on multimedia and learning technologies. My academic interests include the use of games and technology in education, academic esports, game technologies, and the development of 21st-century and transferable skills. In addition to developing Europe’s first fully integrated bachelor’s degree in Academic Esports, I have, together with colleagues and external partners such as Varodd AS and NAV, co-designed GAMEON—a program aimed at motivating young people back into higher education or the workforce. I am particularly interested in interdisciplinary collaboration, working across faculties, and building strong connections between academia and industry. My work emphasizes creating seamless transitions from education to employment and developing the skills needed to succeed in the future workforce.
Areas of responsibility
Study program leader for the international bachelors degree in Academic Esports
Assistant head of departement of ICT: focus on external communication and innovation
Leader of FLARE
Teaching
Teaching several subjects in the bachelor program in Academic Esports and also in the Multimedia and Learning Technology program.
Teaching in the master program of Multimedia and Game Technologies
Supervising bachelor, master and PhD students
Participating in several external initiatives.
Research
Research areas:
Transferable skills
Pedagogy and Game Didactics
Avaemic Esports
Education