- There are many ways to teach, even within the format of a lecture

A former SAMPOL staffer and long-time Bergen teacher has rejoined the department to share his passion for learning with UiB students.

Kjetil Evjen began his position as lecturer at the Department of Comparative Politics this autumn.

He is currently supervising undergraduate students as they prepare their bachelor’s theses. Next spring he’ll teach SAMPOL 105, on state- and nation-building; SAMPOL 106, on organization of the state; and SAMPOL 120, on Scandinavian politics and government.  

Evjen came to the department from Metis Videregående, a private high school in Bergen where he spent many years teaching history and social science.

Before that he was a research assistant at the Department of Comparative Politics, in charge of teaching SAMPOL’s praxis course. He took that job after earning his B.A. and M.A. here.

Evjen says the best part of teaching is watching students develop intellectually, and knowing – or at least hoping – that your instruction played a role.

“In an ideal world, teaching should inspire the students to discuss topics among themselves,” he says. “It’s really rewarding when that happens.”

 Meanwhile, he says, the prime challenge is keeping one’s teaching fresh and diverse. Often that means trying new techniques, even if they might fail.

He is convinced, however, that “there are many ways to teach – even within the format of a lecture.”

Though Evjen is focusing on instruction during his lectureship at SAMPOL, his research experience is extensive.

He is intrigued by historical state- and nation-building processes and how they shaped Europe of today. “My interest is mainly based on a desire to understand how states are formed, and why some survive and others collapse,” he says.

He has co-authored two books on that topic, both with the late professor Frank Aarebrot. The first, Land, makt og følelser, was published in 2014. The most recent, Reformasjonen: Den store historien, was released last week.    

Evjen grew up on the island of Sotra, west of Bergen, and has lived in the city most of his adult life. When not in the classroom he enjoys “a busy family life with three small children, which consumes most of my spare time.”