International student fishing from boat.
Shorter programme

Nordic and International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning

Levanger

Programme description

No reason to stay inside: Do you want to add an exciting, international dimension to your teaching expertise while you experience Norway's spectacular landscape first-hand? Redefine and expand your understanding of education and learning by engaging with nature, and acquire new perspectives by immersing yourself in the history, culture and language of Norway. This semester package emphasizes practical skills and knowledge that will enrich every student's professional profile. Study start in mid-August.

Career opportunities

Teacher education students benefit from diverse and practical learning activities, which are aimed at developing knowledge and skills that will be valued in the workplace.

Teaching practice: A four-week practice module, with 10 days in nursery schools/kindergarten, primary or lower secondary education in Norway (international students) or internationally (Norwegian students).

The teaching practice is an integrated part of the study program.

Exchange students are admitted on the basis of nomination by their home institution. This means that you will have to apply to your home university first to participate. Your home institution will provide you with information about the admission requirements.

Certificate of Good Conduct / Criminal Records Certificate from home country / country of permanent residence.

Places on the course are limited.

Half of the places are reserved for students of Nord University. If the number of international applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be ranked according to the following selection criteria:

  1. students from institutions holding a student exchange agreement with Nord University
  2. students enrolled in teacher education and pre-school education programmes
  3. applicants who are fluent in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, and therefor are eligable for a wide selection of Norwegian taught courses, will not be prioritized
  4. group diversity: geographical spread
Contact the international coordinator at your home institution for more information about exchange to Nord University.

KNOWLEDGE

Upon completion, the student will have:

  • knowledge about contrastive elements in attitudes to education, teaching and learning
  • knowledge about ethical questions concerning relations between human and nature and sustainable development
  • knowledge about view of children and childhood in different educational systems
  • knowledge about pedagogical leadership as a positional and distributed phenomena in the context of Norwegian early childhood education (ECE) and primary school
  • knowledge about different outdoor learning arenas and the tradition of friluftsliv
  • knowledge about the region's Sámi population today and in the past
  • knowledge about the region of Trøndelag's wildlife and issues related to sustainability and the environment

SKILLS

Upon completion, the student should be able to:

  • identify, compare and contrast attitudes and ethical questions to childhood, teaching and learning in own culture and other cultures
  • describe the position of the Sámi population in Central Scandinavia
  • describe and explain issues related to sustainability
  • master some skills related to outdoor activities and friluftsliv
  • organize outdoor related learning activities for children in kindergarten or school
  • plan, carry out and evaluate practice teaching in accordance with practice supervisor
  • apply relevant research about teachers’ and kindergarten teachers’ leadership with children, and the leadership of schools and kindergartens, in their own practical and theoretical reflections

GENERAL COMPETENCE 

Upon completion, the student will:

  • acknowledge the importance of sustainable development
  • acknowledge the value of ethical and responsible attitudes towards nature
  • acknowledge the value of ethical, responsible and respectful attitudes towards children
  • acknowledge the value of intercultural understanding
  • acknowledge the value of outdoor learning and friluftsliv in education
  • be able to reflect upon one's own culture and other cultures' perspectives on teaching and learning