- Trial lecture starts at 10.30
- Public defence starts at 12.30
Title of trial lecture: Designing a mathematics curriculum for economics study programmes underpinned by educational theory – what can be learnt from other disciplines such as engineering?
Read the thesis in the Norwegian Research Information Repository
Disputation chair: Linda Gurvin Opheim, Department for Mathematical Sciences
Assessment committee:
- First opponent: Professor Duncan Lawson, Coventry University, UK
- Second opponent: Professor Frode Rønning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
- Chair of Assessment Committee: Associate Professor Shaista Kanwal, University of Agder
Supervisors in the doctoral work:
- Main supervisors: Professor Rolf Nossum (until 2023) and Associate Professor Hans Kristian Nilsen (from 2023)
- Co-supervisors: Professor Kenneth Ruthven (until 2023) Professor David Reid (from 2023)
Summary of thesis
High drop-out and failure rates in service mathematics courses for economics education have become a widespread challenge in Norway and internationally. This issue is investigated by focusing on the transitions students must navigate when progressing from school mathematics to service mathematics for economics in the first phase, and subsequently from service mathematics to university-level economics courses in the second phase. Emphasising the alignment of the mathematical curriculum across educational institutions, the thesis underscores the need to view these transitions holistically.
Key to this process is the service mathematics course, which is intended to serve as a bridge between school mathematics and the advanced mathematics required in economics. Yet, many students begin their studies underprepared or with inaccurate expectations of the level of mathematics demanded in economics, causing the mathematics course to hinder rather than support their transition. To address these issues, the research led to the development and implementation of a pre-course intervention at the University of Agder. The intervention comprises a diagnostic test and a targeted bridging course aimed at aligning the curricula of school and service mathematics, ensuring all students have equal opportunities to succeed in their transition to economics studies.
The research also highlights the importance of aligning the service mathematics curriculum with the mathematical needs of subsequent economics courses. An examination of the Lagrange multiplier method reveals curricular mismatches in how mathematical concepts are introduced and used across different courses, which need to be addressed to facilitate students’ transitions.
What to do as an online audience member
The disputation is open to the public. To follow the trial lecture and the public defence online, register on Zoom.
We ask online audience members to join no earlier than 10 minutes in advance. After these times, you can leave and rejoin the meeting at any time.
Opponent ex auditorio:
Deadline for the public to pose questions is during the break between the two opponents. Questions ex auditorio can be submitted to Disputation Chair Linda Gurvin Opheim.
Contact person
- victoria.belous@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 23 46