USE Center SDU. Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for University Science Education

Why create the USE Center?

The world needs excellent university science programs more than ever before. But science programs face serious challenges through high non-completion rates, and the limited tradition for professional competence development related to teaching makes it difficult for science programs to continuously address emerging challenges. 

Solutions to these challenges can only be relevant and sustainable in the long-term if they are based on discipline-based educational research rather than on anecdotal experience or tradition. Initiatives have to be aligned with state-of-the art knowledge about student learning.

This requires stronger capacity in Denmark for research-based improvements of science teaching practice done together with teachers and students and with a starting point in the particularities of the individual science disciplines.

How is the USE Center organized?

The USE Center links a center hub at the Department of Science Education (IND), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), with interdisciplinary research groups in satellites at the University of Aarhus (AU) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and with leading international environments as strategic partners.

What is the timeline for the USE Center? 

The center will run over five years with an optional Phase Two of three years. The total budget is expected to be DKK125 (Phase One) + 75 (Phase Two) million.

USE at SDU

At SDU the USE program will be facilitated by a core group of researchers from STEM Education Research Center (FNUG) and Centre for Teaching and Learning (SDU UP):

• USE LEAD: Emanuela Marchetti (FNUG), Dorte Moeskær Larsen (FNUG), Gitte Miller Balslev (FNUG)
• USE Liaison: Gitte Miller Balslev (FNUG), Cita Nørgård (SDU UP)
• USE senior researchers: Rie Troelsen (SDU UP), Connie Svabo (FNUG)

The first steps

At SDU, the USE program will be facilitated through a collaborative approach. One of the first steps involves co-creating the organizational framework for upcoming activities. This process will be guided by dialogue with experts in science education and key stakeholders in the program. To ensure we engage the most relevant people, we will adopt a "snowball" approach across the Faculty of Science.

Read more about USE Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for University Science Education, University of Copenhagen