Bjørn Stensaker
Research on learning and teaching in higher education is booming, spurred by technological innovations, new models of delivery as a consequence of changing demands and new expectations directed at higher education from society. These external drivers will most likely have even more impact in the years to come. However, as the external drivers for change are rooted in different logics which are not necessarily aligned, new tensions may also rise where norms and values related to democracy and inclusion are tested against labour market needs or when immediate employability concerns are confronted with education that addresses the grand challenges of society. Possible implications for research on learning and instruction include the need for studies that are able to connect the core processes of teaching and learning with societal outcomes and impact. This will also require new methodologies and the ability to handle big data.