In order for future biologists to be able to solve challenges in food production, biodiversity and climate change, the Department of Biology at the University of Bergen (UiB) believes that a rethink of education practices is long overdue.

In November 2013 it was announced that the Bergen biologist’s bioCEED centre initiative was to become one of only four Norwegian Centres of Excellence in Higher Education (SFU), and in April 2014 the centre officially opened.

One of the main goals of bioCEED is to bridge the gap between academia and society, so that all involved parties together can work towards better solutions.

“When you begin studying biology, you know very well what you are to study, but not necessarily what you will become in the future. This is why we want to bring in those who hire biologists at an early stage. We want our students to have practical experience, starting as early as the first semester,” says Professor Vigdis Vandvik, who is the director of bioCEED.

Overcoming tough competition

A total of 24 higher education environments applied for SFU in 2013. The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) picked eight finalists. Competition was tough before bioCEED was chosen as one of the winners, who will each receive a NOK 3 million annual grant for the next five years.

“We view this as a reward for our long-term commitment to renewing education processes, both at our department and with our partners in Bergen and Svalbard,” says Vandvik, referring to the department’s extensive collaborations with the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and UiB’s Department of Education.

According to Vandvik, the SFU status is a natural extension of the Department of Biology’s strategy for 2011–2015. The bioCEED project also fits hand in glove with UiB’s overall objectives for research-based education.

Deployment in ‘the real world’

At bioCEED the students will gain practical knowledge and experience through deployment in research, the public sector, NGOs, and private industry. The students will soon learn that biologists are found everywhere in society, and sometimes on opposite sides of the table.

The bioCEED team hope that the centre’s society-orientated approach will create a new type of biologists to meet these future challenges; and on the way towards this form the basis for academic argument, reflection and learning.

Smells like team spirit

Vandvik and her colleagues have created a strong team spirit, where new technology and unconventional methods of teaching are integrated into the education.

“Our mode of communication has changed radically in both our private lives and work lives. This also needs to be reflected in the tools we use in education and research,” the biology professor believes. “At the same time we need to be cautious about the introduction of new technology. Social media or online education must not be used just for the sake of it, but needs to benefit learning and professional development.”

She points out that new technology not only changes the dynamics between student and teacher, but will also be an important pool in creating a collaborative environment between lecturers.

“We already experiment a lot in our education at the department, but this is often initiated by individuals. The SFU gives us extra funding to test new initiatives in our education and to create better structures for sharing our experiences,” says Vigdis Vandvik. “We want to improve our education across the spectrum. Good education must be a joint effort.”

Biology in society

bioCEED’s official opening in April 2014 also became the perfect ten-year anniversary gift for the ambitious researchers and educators at the Department of Biology, which was itself established in 2004.

According to Vandvik there will be an on-going assessment of the teaching methods at bioCEED. She hopes the centre can contribute to a change in the learning and teaching environment in academia.

“Rather than making adjustments in content and teaching methods, we aim to change everything from the bottom up by challenging the conventional culture of teaching and learning,” says Vigdis Vandvik, before stressing that the main prerogative of bioCEED is to bring biologists out in society and bring society to biology – for the benefit of all.

(Translated from the Norwegian by Sverre Ole Drønen.)

This article first appeared in the UiB Magazine 2014/2015. You can download a PDF of the full magazine or you may browse the magazine online.