معرفی
Monica Endresen Barken is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pedagogy at the University of Agder (UiA), where she has been a faculty member since 2019. She teaches courses in early childhood education, including Barns utvikling, lek og læring (Children's Development, Play, and Learning) and oversees the Bachelor's thesis in the kindergarten teacher education program. Her research focuses on kindergarten-based competence development, children's pedagogical needs, and regional educational systems.
**Education & Background:**
- 2006–2009: Kindergarten assistant
- 2014–2018: Kindergarten teacher
- 2019–present: Lecturer/Assistant Professor at UiA
**Research Interests:**
- Children’s developmental needs and play-based learning
- Regional competence development initiatives (e.g., Rekomp)
- Pedagogical leadership roles in kindergarten reforms
**Awards & Recognition:**
- Nominated for Årets barnehageinspirator (Best Kindergarten Inspirator) at Barnehage.no in 2021 and 2023
**Current Projects:** Leads research on intersectoral collaboration in kindergarten and school competence development, emphasizing policy translation and stakeholder engagement.
**Affiliations:** Member of the Kindergartens, Childhood, and Pre-School Teacher Education research group.
