Gitte Miller Balslev

Gitte Miller Balslev is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Southern Denmark, where she also serves as co-director of the STEM Education Research Center – FNUG. Her research focuses on STEM-related educational innovation and reform across various levels of the education system. She is particularly interested in how educational leadership shapes the realization of reforms and drives collaborative innovation within learning ecosystems.

A central theme in Gitte’s work is the alignment of leadership practices with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education. She studies how leaders engage with diverse communities and stakeholders to design educational programs that are inclusive and responsive to all students. Her research also investigates inclusive leadership practices—how school leaders cultivate environments where students and educators feel respected, supported, and heard. In the classroom, she explores culturally responsive approaches to science education, including the use of problem-based learning to reflect and honor students’ cultural backgrounds.

Gitte’s research on the NAFA-program (Danish Academy of Natural Science) complements the goals of the LIFT project. The NAFA initiative emphasizes the development of leadership networks within broader learning ecosystems, engaging a wide range of stakeholders to advance inclusive STEM education and distributed leadership. Through this work, Gitte contributes to a deeper understanding of how equity-centered leadership can take shape across national and international contexts.