Erla Olsen

Erla Olsen is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of the Faroe Islands, where she has been teaching Biology for teachers since 2011. She was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2013 and to Associate Professor in 2017. From 2017-2018, she served as Programme Leader for Teacher Education, and from 2018-2024, she was Dean of the Faculty of Education. Her academic career spans over a decade at the University of the Faroe Islands with significant contributions to educational research and administration.

Dr. Olsen's research spans two primary domains: educational research and biological science. In educational research, she focuses on teaching and learning in natural sciences, utilizing surveys, focus groups, interviews, and statistical analyses. She examines PISA and national test data as indicators of the Faroese educational system within broader contexts, combined with studies on student well-being, attitudes toward school, and information technology usage. Her biological research investigates the ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and how factors like temperature, grazing, precipitation, and light impact symbiotic relationships.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on educational challenges during the pandemic, particularly online teaching, student mental well-being, and learning outcomes. She has also contributed extensively to PISA reporting and analysis in the Faroe Islands context, as well as studies on student well-being and bullying in compulsory schools. Her interdisciplinary approach connects educational practices with environmental science, particularly in island contexts.

• ITC-usage in Faroese Educational Institutions (2022-present)
• Frændafundur (2009-present)
• Wellbeing and bullying in compulsory schools (2022-2023)
• Pedagogical considerations and challenges during a rapid switch from onsite to online teaching (2020-2023)