General information

ECTS-credits: 10
Department: Bodø International Summer University
Semester: Summer

Number of semesters: 1
Campus: Bodø
Head of unit: Frode Soelberg

Email: frode.soelberg@hibo.no

Access to unit: All students enrolled to BISU

Objective

Managing diversity between individuals and managing diversity between categories of individuals have been the major challenge of mankind throughout all history. Today this is the case more than ever. Finding working solutions are imperative to the continuance of civilised values. It may even be imperative to the continuance of our species. The topics in our summer university are controversial and aim to be thought provoking. We do not seek to provide ultimate answers to the issues of our time. But we expect to contribute to greater awareness of their various aspects and of the underlying, fundamental principles at stake. Managing Diversity is committed to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights as expressed in the UN international conventions of 1976.

Content

1. Arctic escape

Escape into the arctic, climb mountains, and explore artic wildlife and scenery - and maybe most important: the arctic night. Includes an introduction to Norwegian culture.

2. Peaceful coexistence and cooperation

Peace building and reconciliation: Workshop and simulations. We will study together and acquire skills and thoughts that you can apply in your working and your home context. These will include skills of personal management and of conflict resolution. Each day you will be able to take advantage of individual tutorial support.

3. Cross cultural communication

Communication across languages, media and conflict, internationalisation, globalisation, tribalism, national policies on minorities, and peace keeping, and peace building military operations. Each day you will be able to take advantage of individual tutorial support.

4. Reporting on diversity

Writing up and presentation of research/report.

Teaching and learning methods

In addition to a traditional, academic approach to raising awareness, we believe personal involvement to play a central part in such a process. This is reflected in course content, and we wish to emphasise that participants should expect to take an active part at all points of this arrangement, including traditionally extra-curricular activities and even our system of accommodation. Course participants will represent several cultures and countries. Diversity will not only be an academic topic safely located at arm’s length. We may have to deal with practical challenges of diversity that each of us will have to find a solution to.

We kindly ask you to meet this total experience with an open mind and an open ear, and with a will to understand and to contribute. Expect to make contact with representatives of other cultures, to the mutual benefit of you as individuals and your cultures.

Faculty

Eric Cleven, Visiting Professor, Centre for Peace Building and Conflict Management, Norway.

Arne Martin Jacobsen, Assistant Professor, Bodö Regional University, Norway.

Conrad Ozog, Visiting Professor, University of Western Sydney, Australia.

Stein Rodahl, Assistant Professor, Bodö University College, Norway.

Frode Soelberg, Assistant Professor, Bodö University College, Norway.

Contact hours

Lectures: 30h

Workshops: 30h

Seminars: 20h

Individual mentoring: 5h.

Course evaluation

Participants are to prepare, write, and hand in the final assignment. Individual advice is available throughout the course from staff. A brief presentation, of 5-10 minutes, is to be given. Further details about the assessments will be provided on arrival.

Accreditation

Marks run from A (highest) to F (lowest), lowest mark of passing being E (ECTS).  The successful completion of Managing Diversity will merit 10 European (ECTS) credits.

Exam and assessment

Cultural diary, poster session and paper

Study prerequisites

Participants should try to have read about topics we are going to deal with this summer prior to the course. Different sources of information must be expected to lead to fruitful questions and discussions when participants meet. Keep updated through the media and by doing your own reading.