Hein Lindquist

Hein Lindquist serves as Deputy Head of Department at the University of Southeast Norway's Department of Pedagogy within the Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Sciences. With over 35 years of experience spanning kindergarten leadership, teacher education, and academic administration, he specializes in multilingual pedagogy and special education. His current roles include supervising master's students, teaching special education courses, and leading the longitudinal SPARK project on teacher education recruitment.

• PhD in Pedagogy (2024): The youngest multilingual children - language use at home and in kindergarten
• Cand Paed Spec (Professional degree in special education)
• Kindergarten teacher qualification with additional training in guidance, special education, and organizational management

Professor Lindquist's research centers on linguistic diversity in early childhood settings, examining how multilingual families navigate language practices and how educational institutions implement inclusion policies. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, particularly focusing on toddlers' translingual practices, language policy implementation in Norwegian kindergartens, and intersections between special education needs and multilingualism. Recent publications demonstrate increasing engagement with critical race perspectives in educational contexts.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2004-2025) reveals consistent focus on multilingualism (68%), with growing attention to teacher education systems (22%) and critical race discourse (10%). His research spans early childhood (0-6 years) contexts, predominantly using qualitative methodologies to explore language socialization, pedagogical strategies, and policy implementation. The longitudinal SPARK project represents his current methodological shift toward mixed-methods tracking of educational trajectories.

Professor Lindquist actively supervises master's students across special education and teacher education programs, with recent theses examining multilingual classroom practices and inclusion frameworks. His leadership in the SPARK project and previous 'Actions and reflections in professional education' initiative demonstrates sustained funding success in Norwegian educational research. As Deputy Head of Department, he shapes curriculum development and resource allocation for pedagogy programs.

While not leading a formal laboratory, Lindquist coordinates research teams through the Department of Pedagogy, particularly for the SPARK longitudinal study. His projects involve collaborations with kindergarten practitioners, teacher educators, and policy makers, emphasizing practical applications of research findings. Current work focuses on digital competence development in special education and refining recruitment strategies for diverse teacher candidates.