Introduction

This programme, “Challenges of Contemporary Society” is carefully designed to welcome international students to spend one semester at Hedmark University College, and to receive a full academic programme in English. The programme offers a unique combination of cultural and political investigations into core aspects of civic, economic and politic life. The programme originated as part of the tri-partite agreement between Pacific Lutheran University, Washington State, US, University of Namibia and Hedmark University College in 2002. Students from the three academic institutions should be given the chance to meet and study core questions of to day in an intimate and academically productive atmosphere. The programme is designed to meet the requirements for an international exchange semester in most universities.

This programme caters to those who would like to spend one semester at Hedmark University College without having to learn Norwegian, and yet studying in an international context.

Overall goals of programme

The overall goal for the programme is that students participating in the programme

should develop:

• a capacity to identify core cultural, political and economical variables of an unknown culture or nation ( case: Norway)
• an awareness of and competence in distinguishing cultural myths from cultural content
• skills in real cross-cultural communication
• a deeper insight in own culture and how that is perceived by others
• a capacity to function as a minority in a work situation

a capacity to work in partnership on a project with people from different cultures.

Student recruitment

The programme is designed to meet an international body of students studying for a degree in Global Studies, Political Science or other programmes where a cross cultural approach to society and politics can be a part. The programme will also be of value for immigrants with an academic qualification that would like to familiarise themselves with the Norwegian society in an international context and with English as language.

Duration and academic level

The programme last for one semester. The programme is accepted as part of Social Science Studies in the Teacher Training Education (in Norway) and can also become an integrated part of BA programmes nationally as well as internationally.

Competence

The programme will give the students experience in working across cultural differences with theoretical questions and case study based tasks. They will develop their capacity to experience and resolve situations of cross cultural problem solving and communication. In addition they will gain insight in the academic topics that the programme is focussing.

Content, structure and organisation

The programme consists of three separate modules. All modules represent 10 ECTS.

Information Competence

The programme is based on an intense use of internet sources of information. The students will be expected to develop a good competence in using and evaluating different internet sources. The programme is also based on competence in supplementary use of information technology in the submission of written material and in oral presentations. The programme use Class Fronter as a digital learning platform.

Internationalisation

The programme is based on student body that is composed of international and Norwegian students working together throughout the programme. The core of the programme is thus to prepare the participants to be active partners in an internationalised world and to build relations across national boundaries and the continents.

Methods of work

The methods of study will vary between lectures, seminars, individual guidance and work in groups. Information technology is integrated in most parts of the programme. Classfronter - a digital learning platform is used as a tool of communication between the college and the students.

Evaluation

The students are challenged to demonstrate their academic qualifications and topical knowledge through a variety of tasks. They will be asked to produce written reports, essays, oral presentations, home exams and oral exams.