Håkon Johansen managed to engage students at Lakehead University. Among other things, he pitched the International Class, an online teaching programme that brings together students from Norway, the USA, and Canada for collaboration this fall. Private photo.
But he did not expect that it would attract international attention.
March 2020: people all over the world are being asked to stay home to limit the spread of the new virus. Traveling is out of the question for most people for the foreseeable future.
For the students of university lecturer Håkon Johansen, this means that exchange programmes abroad are out of the question.
“It is a shame if students do not get the chance to become familiar with other perspectives on their profession,” Johansen thinks and comes up with an idea:
Imagine if we could gather nursing students from different parts of the world for an online meeting.
Håkon Johansen
"I saw it as a simple measure to give students some impulses from abroad. So, I called my former teachers in the USA, who also thought this was worth trying," says Johansen.
Shortly after, 230 students from the USA and Norway met for a lecture on the healthcare systems in the two countries, followed by group discussions in what is called the "International Classroom."
It hadn't occurred to Johansen that anyone else would find this interesting. But suddenly one day, he received an email from a professor at Lakehead University in Canada.
"He had googled and found an article about our programme at nord.no and thought it was cool. He said they wanted to join next time and asked if we had more cool things in the works," says Johansen.
Recently, he returned from his first exchange stay at Lakehead University.
Collaboration agreements have been signed, opening up exchanges for both staff and students, with funding through the UArctic university network.
"It was great to be noticed in that way. And it is nice to see that it opens up new opportunities for internationalisation," says Johansen.
Accompanying him to Canada was his colleague Ranveig Rotmo, programme director and project manager. She is delighted to return home with four new exchange places from Thunder Bay, the host city of the 1995 World Ski Championships and home to Lakehead University.
"Last year, we sent twenty students out into the world to write their bachelor's theses. This year, I hope we can send 24, with four of them going to Canada," says Rotmo.
Similar to Nord University, Lakehead University has a special responsibility for indigenous peoples.
"I see great opportunities for collaboration in this area, both in education and research," says Rotmo.
"The challenges they work on related to rural areas and indigenous peoples are very recognisable to those we deal with in Norway."
In the same way that we had assimilation policies in Norway, indigenous peoples in Canada were forced into residential schools and orphanages, stripping them of their language and culture.
Ranveig Rotmo
Rotmo is certain that there is much to learn from each other. Many issues are closely related.
“We see similarities with what has happened in Norway, but it is more visible in the urban landscape in Canada,” elaborates Rotmo.
At Lakehead University, they have a dedicated unit working to support and uplift students from difficult backgrounds into educational pathways.
“We also see potential for research and development work here,” says Rotmo.
Rotmo describes Thunder Bay as a fantastic place and not unlike Norway with its mountains, forests, and lakes.
“People here are very pleasant and informal. They are easy to communicate with and approachable,” says Rotmo.
She finds the Canadian partners to be proactive and solution-oriented, and points to the opportunity students now have to write their bachelor's thesis in Canada.
“Students will get a supervisor from Nord University and one from the host university. We already have a good collaborative platform between the universities,” says Rotmo.
She believes that the collaboration with Lakehead University will develop significantly in the future.
“We have a special responsibility to serve the Lule and South Sami communities, and I see great opportunities for continuing work on indigenous projects,” says Rotmo.
Nord University has ongoing research projects related to health in Sami communities, educates Sami primary school teachers, and offers programmes in both Lule and South Sami. Nord also has its own Sami research group that looks into historical, cultural, and linguistic issues.
“We have a list of names that we want to connect colleagues with in the future. We are similar in many areas, and we need to take advantage of that,” says Ranveig Rotmo.
Exchange from Nord University
Nord University has exchange agreements with universities across large parts of the world. The faculties have agreements in different countries. See overview of agreements.
The Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences has agreements with universities in Tanzania, the USA, and Spain, in addition to the agreement with Lakehead University.
Nord University's participation in the university alliances UArctic and SEA-EU opens up opportunities for scholarships for both staff and students wishing to travel abroad. The EU's education programme Erasmus+ also provides opportunities for scholarships.
To be able to go on exchange, you must be a student in a bachelor's or master's programme when you apply and throughout the entire stay. Students in one-year programmes and single courses cannot go on exchange.
Exchange from Nord University
Nord University has exchange agreements with universities across large parts of the world. The faculties have agreements in different countries. See overview of agreements.
The Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences has agreements with universities in Tanzania, the USA, and Spain, in addition to the agreement with Lakehead University.
Nord University's participation in the university alliances UArctic and SEA-EU opens up opportunities for scholarships for both staff and students wishing to travel abroad. The EU's education programme Erasmus+ also provides opportunities for scholarships.
To be able to go on exchange, you must be a student in a bachelor's or master's programme when you apply and throughout the entire stay. Students in one-year programmes and single courses cannot go on exchange.
