KINDknow - Kindergarten Knowledge Centre for Systemic Research on Diversity and Sustainable Futures
KINDknow generates knowledge that is locally sensitive and internationally relevant. International comparative surveys combined with qualitative, close-to-practice research approaches provide overviews over the diversity of early childhood education and inspiring insights into local practices.
The use of participatory designs aims to empower kindergarten teachers and children as actors in the field, enhance synergies between the academics, kindergartens and communities, but also reconstructing the multi-voiced, complex worlds of practice(s).
The centre aligns itself with the ideas in the United Nations’ Frameworks for Education for Sustainable Development and Futures, the Norwegian kindergarten act, as set out by the Norwegian government, and the curriculum, known as the Framework Plan (FWP).
The research of the KINDknow centre will be closely linked to kindergarten teacher education (KTE), master education in kindergarten knowledge and PhD programme, particularly the Western Norway University of Applied Science´s programme ‘Bildung and pedagogical practices’. It will also inform and influence kindergarten teacher education research at partnership institutions, University of Tromsø and University of Stavanger who are partners in the project.