معرفی
Katja Hakel is a Professor of Academic Development at the University of Agder (UiA), where she has been working since February 2024 after previously working at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She leads the associate professor program and serves as the academic chair of the excellent teaching practitioner scheme at UiA, playing a pivotal role in faculty development and recognition of teaching excellence within the institution.
Hakel's research centers on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the development of equitable academic career paths that recognize teaching excellence alongside traditional research-focused professor tracks. Her work examines how organizational learning occurs in higher education institutions, particularly regarding the 'second career path' for academics who focus primarily on teaching and educational development. She has been instrumental in analyzing the implementation challenges of inclusive learning environments and advocating for systematic approaches to UDL across academic departments.
Her publication record shows a consistent trajectory of research focused on practical implementation of educational theory. From analyzing faculty development training impacts to examining promotion criteria for teaching-focused academics, her work bridges theoretical frameworks with actionable strategies for improving both teaching practices and academic career structures. She has particularly emphasized the need for institutional support systems that enable faculty to effectively integrate inclusive teaching practices into their daily work.
- Meritorious Lecturer at NTNU (2022)
- Excellent Teaching Practitioner at NTNU (2022)
Hakel has created significant mentoring infrastructure for academics pursuing teaching-focused careers through her leadership of the associate professor program at UiA and her involvement with the national Facebook group 'Førstelektor.' She has developed comprehensive training programs and resources that help faculty document and advance their teaching expertise, contributing to national conversations about academic career development in Norway. Her 2021 article comparing the doctoral defense process with senior lecturer promotion highlighted systemic inequities in how teaching excellence is recognized compared to research achievements.
At UiA, she leads initiatives related to academic development, serves on committees focused on educational quality, and contributes to the FORTHEM alliance's work on innovative pedagogies. Her approach consistently connects theoretical understanding of effective teaching with practical implementation strategies that can be adopted across disciplines, making tangible contributions to improving both faculty development systems and student learning experiences in higher education.
