"Our focus during this time has been to take care of everyone affected.”

Kaisa Wiens was buried in Vancouver, Canada, on Wednesday, November 6. Kaisa was a student at Nord University, Levanger campus. She died in a mountain accident in Lofoten in mid-October. 

“Losing a student is a tragic and serious event for us. Our focus from the time the accident happened until the funeral has been to stay in contact with her closest relatives in her home country and to take care of fellow students and staff. We have also assisted the police with information”, says Dean Rose Martin at the Faculty of Education and Arts. 

Martin says that this has been an especially demanding time for Kaisa’s fellow students, and that it has been important for Nord University to facilitate for students and staff to be able to meet and be together after the accident and up until the funeral. 

She says that Kaisa’s death has deeply affected fellow students and staff. 

"Together with the student welfare organisation Studentinord, we have established meeting places for students and staff to make sure they are not left alone with their feelings and thoughts. We have also arranged a memorial service for Kaisa together with her fellow students.” 

Parts of the trip Kaisa planned in Lofoten were related to the academic programme in the course Practical friluftsliv (outdoor life). In the course, students must carry out a self-planned trip, a component that has been a part of this course for many years.  

Based on the knowledge we have now, the accident happened during the part of the trip where Kaisa was on the self-planned trip. 

The trip that must be planned and carried out by the students should last three days and two nights. The goal of the trip is for the students to be outdoors, establish a campsite, and complete different tasks related to the campsite. 

Throughout the semester, students learn about various aspects of outdoor life and go on a number of trips of varying lengths and in different terrains. Students receive both theoretical and practical training in trip planning, navigation, and safety assessment on trips. 

Nord University has guidelines for safety in teaching situations. When there are teaching activities with increased risk, additional risk assessments are carried out. 

“Losing a student is the worst thing that can happen. This accident has deeply affected us”, says Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk, Vice-Rector for Education at Nord University. 

“We need to look more closely into the details of this case. We are now reviewing our routines, including safety in teaching. Part of this work will be carried out by an externally led working group that will prepare an evaluation report on the accident. The goal of this work is to understand how this accident could happen, and to learn from it." 

On Tuesday, October 15, the Nordland Police District issued a press release after the accident, informing that it was Kaisa Wiens who was found deceased on Saturday, October 12. They also stated that Kaisa was a Canadian citizen and a student at Nord University, Levanger campus. 

In the press release, the police further stated that she was found in steep terrain and that the police had no information to suggest anything other than that it was a tragic accident. 

The police are still investigating the incident. 

Are you a journalist and have questions related to this case? Please send an email to media@nord.no or call our media hotline +47 400 18 200 (no SMS).