Meet the researchers: Silje Valde Onsrud

Silje Valde Onsrud works as an Associate professor in music education at the Department of Arts Education at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She has previously worked as the director for the Centre for Arts, Culture, and Communication at the Faculty of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sports. In her current work, she teaches and supervises at a wide range of levels in higher teacher education, from bachelor-, master-, through Ph.D.-levels. To develop music teacher education for the future, as we aim to do in the FUTURED project, is among her greatest interests, and she is always eager to be challenged both as a teacher and researcher – something the FUTURED project certainly contributes to.

How did you get involved with the FUTURED project? 

The project manager Catharina Christophersen invited me to contribute in developing the project and submitting an application to the research council together with her – something I am very grateful for, because the project is so exiting, the people are wonderful and I learn a lot from being part of the research community we’ve developed together as a group.

Both in my teaching and research I have mainly been into critical approaches focusing on issues such as social justice, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and inclusion. I believe this is a relevant background to benefit from in the FUTURED project.

How would you describe what you are doing in your research?

I am involved as a researcher in two of the work packages (WPs). In WP1, I’m one of the co-supervisors of the Ph.D.-project, and researcher in a study of relevant documents to trace values and ideologies in today’s general music teacher education. I am also a researcher in WP2, where I have done participatory action research in teacher education in collaboration with my colleagues Hanne Rinholm and Bendik Fredriksen. As manager of the WP2 I also lead the progress with milestones such as publications and conference papers. In addition, I function as the co-manager of the whole project and take part in steering group meetings as well as other administrative meetings and tasks.

What do you find interesting about the work in your study?

I think the most exiting about my study has been to do participatory action research with the students; to listen to what they have to say, see them in action and get a glimpse into their thoughts, experiences, envisioning, hopes and ideas.

What is your favourite aspect of your research in FUTURED?

I enjoy and appreciate the collaboration with so many competent, wise, and lovely colleges involved from many countries. I learn so much from discussing and getting input from co-researchers, guest researchers and advisory board. Though we come from different contexts, we have so much in common.

This interview is taking place nearly halfway through the project. Where are you heading for the future?

We have so much interesting data from this project, and I imagine I will still be able to publish a couple of articles after the project time is out. I would also like to contribute to a follow-up study building on the results from FUTURED.