Ilmi Willbergh

Ilmi Willbergh is Professor of Education at the University of Agder, Norway, serving within the Faculty of Humanities and Education, Department of Education. Since 2008 she has been leading the research group General Didactics and Educational Policy and is Editor-in-Chief of the Nordic Journal of Pedagogy and Critique.

Education:

• PhD in Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 2008 – thesis: Mimesis, Didaktikk og digitale læremidler
• Master’s Degree in Media Science, University of Oslo

Research interests revolve around general didactics / Allgemeine Didaktik and encompass empirical classroom research, curriculum theory, assessment and accountability, digital media in teaching, aesthetic education, and post-colonial perspectives on diverse classrooms. A unifying theme is the concept of Bildung as both aim and framework for teaching and teacher education.

Across her recent publications (2022-2024) she investigates how cultural references in teaching can empower minority students, explores the aesthetic dimensions of teacher education, and examines the significance of teaching content from a Bildung-centered viewpoint. Her work is characterized by rigorous empirical studies, philosophical depth, and a commitment to democratic education.

Scientific output & leadership

• Head of the research group General Didactics and Educational Policy
• Chief Editor, Nordic Journal of Pedagogy and Critique
• Study programme director for the PhD specialisation in pedagogy
• Principal investigator on national projects such as KLARAS (classroom communication) and InCom (cultural references)

She supervises PhD students and teaches in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes, integrating theory and practice through aesthetic and digital approaches. Her leadership roles and editorial work further disseminate didactic research across the Nordic region.