Ove Skarpenes

Ove Skarpenes is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Agder, Norway. He co-leads two research groups: Social studies didactics and educational research and Sociological theory and analysis. His office is located at Universitetsveien 53, Kristiansand.

His research examines sociological theory, educational policy, and class dynamics, with specific focus on:

• Tensions between individualization and standardization in education systems
• Working-class culture and moral foundations of the Nordic welfare model
• Quantification and classification impacts in educational settings
• Curriculum analysis in social studies education
• Social responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic

Skarpene's publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary engagement across sociology, education policy, and cultural studies, with recurring analysis of Norwegian class structures, educational reforms, and institutional trust dynamics. His methodological approaches blend theoretical sociology with empirical case studies.

He maintains active participation in public discourse through opinion pieces in Norwegian media (Klassekampen, Fædrelandsvennen, forskning.no) addressing educational policy, class inequality, and societal responses to current challenges.