Vivian Mawuli Gli
Subject:
Ibsen Studies
Degree:
Master's
Graduated:
2014
Position:
Director of Research /CEO
Employer:
VAMG Research Institute (vamgresearchinstitute.org)
[Vivian’s initials]
– What are the most important aspects of your job?
As the Director of Research and CEO at VAMG Research Institute, I balance strategic leadership, operational excellence, and scientific vision. I can support senior researchers, mentor early-career researchers, supervise research quality, integrity, and ethical compliance, manage daily operations, and train recent graduates for industry-specific research. These are practical skills I acquired during my master’s studies at the Centre for Ibsen Studies.
My studies in Oslo have greatly impacted my ability to support and oversee projects that use drama for public engagement, policy, and form. I am currently pursuing my PhD at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, where I am examining “Awareness and Advocacy of Climate Change through Art Forms in Ghana.”
I have argued that societal issues, like those addressed in Ibsen’s works, are global in scope, and, like climate change, are recognized globally in every culture; as such, it is necessary to approach them from that perspective.
– What do you like most about your job?
I am privileged to work alongside global scholars and organizations from both fields (academic and industry), who have spearheaded ground-breaking academic research and developed innovative technology where theory continuously influences practice and practice in turn generates new theoretical enquiries.
The ability to bridge these worlds – contributing to the development of research that is not only intellectually sound but also has a significant social and commercial impact – is ultimately what I appreciate most.
– In what ways are the studies that you have undertaken at the Centre for Ibsen Studies/Faculty of Humanities relevant to your job?
My studies at the Centre for Ibsen Studies offered me theoretical frameworks and useful resources for interdisciplinary research and contextualization. I gained fundamental research skills in literary and performance analysis, as well as cultural adaptation, to explore primary texts, performance archives, and scholarly databases effectively, which are essential for examining how Ibsen’s writings are modified to satisfy the sociopolitical and developmental requirements of various African cultures. Beyond the academic framework, Ibsen studies improved my capacity to synthesize data from fieldwork and a variety of sources.
Ibsen studies gave me a strong theoretical foundation, methodological rigor, and firsthand experience with cross-cultural practices and techniques that have improved my ability to produce excellent research results. I am in a better position to assist colleagues and junior researchers in developing research projects with a variety of approaches and generating publishable work based on field data and theory.
My education and global experience have enabled me to bridge theory and practice to enhance the institute’s intellectual direction and lead creative research avenues.
– What is the best tip for students who are thinking about job opportunities after graduation?
After graduating from the Centre for Ibsen Studies, students should utilize their intercultural and multidisciplinary skills to secure job opportunities in various sectors, including publishing, education, cultural, non-governmental (NGO), and international sectors.
They should develop advanced research, critical thinking, cultural analysis, and communication skills, which are highly sought after in academic and non-governmental sectors. Fieldwork and collaborative work can help develop project management and cross-cultural communication abilities.
The center’s global visibility and collaborations offer entry points into cultural NGOs, embassies, arts councils, and international organizations focusing on human rights, education, and development. Students should translate their expertise into positions that recognize socially conscious, analytical, and creative professionals.
– What is your favorite Ibsen work and why?
A Doll's House and An Enemy of the People are two of my favorite Ibsen works, which I studied for the Modern European Drama course at the University of Ghana, School of Performing Arts.
A Doll's House critiques individual liberty, gender norms, and home life organization. In my master’s thesis, I investigated Ga traditional marriage customs in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, highlighting the challenge of classical texts in exposing gender dynamics in traditional societies. This experience strengthened my desire to use plays to discuss women’s roles in indigenous social structures and marital expectations. It also served as an effective Theatre for Development tool, addressing important social issues.
Ibsen highlights the importance of public health advocacy and social justice through the works of Dr. Stockmann in An Enemy of the People. I use theater to address systemic challenges in the Greater Accra region, such as sanitation and environmental health. I demonstrated the flexibility and relevance of Ibsen’s works, positioning theatre as a platform for grassroots public health participation and policy communication. Ibsen’s plays also highlight the role of performance in societal change and the importance of cultural reform.