Mari Johanne Wikhaug Andersen

Mari Johanne Wikhaug Andersen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Language, Literature and Culture, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA). Her academic work focuses on multilingualism in vocational education, Norwegian as a second language, and teacher agency within educational policy frameworks. She holds a master's degree (2014) and recently completed a doctoral project (2024) exploring multilingualism in Norwegian vocational classrooms through linguistic ethnography.

Her research integrates sociolinguistic theory with practical classroom dynamics, addressing challenges such as anglonormativity, monolingual policy constraints, and teacher-student interactions in linguistically diverse settings. Key areas include curriculum implementation in vocational education, language policy enactment, and strategies for supporting multilingual learners in technical programs like hairdressing and mechanics.

Andersen has published extensively on teacher perspectives, policy gaps, and pedagogical innovations in multilingual vocational contexts. Recent work emphasizes the role of vocational teachers as policy actors negotiating between national language mandates and classroom realities. Her findings highlight systemic barriers to multilingual inclusivity and propose actionable frameworks for enhancing teacher agency in diverse classrooms.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on second language pedagogy, multilingualism in education, and Norwegian for vocational educators at bachelor's and master's levels. She actively supervises master's students in applied linguistics and teacher education programs.