VERDDE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
A different exchange experience
Verdde program is different from other exchange programs. One of the reasons is that the colleges involved create strong ties with each other.
The exchanges are also with groups of people and are for shorter periods of time, which has several benefits for students, especially if they have families and work.
The Verdde program started as a pilot project with Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) and Sámi University College (SUC) in 2004. The program includes exchange opportunities for teachers and students at the participating institutions.
The program was named Verdde, a Sámi word meaning “a mutually beneficial exchange.”
The exchange will allow the students and educators to study and experience life in an arctic environmental with clear similarities to their original place, but with a different language, culture and traditions. Students will study education system at the different institutions participating in the program and do a comparative study.
Objectives of the program
One aim of the Verdde program is to learn to use different kinds of knowledge and learning systems. Sámi University College and Nunavut Arctic College are training teachers to indigenous group children. Therefore it is very important realize that we have to find ways in western and indigenous context to give the children the best learning possible. In indigenous people’s learning context use of local people’s resources to gain more effective learning is very important.
Knowledge sharing
During the students’ time at the host institution, they will visit the college and its surroundings and complete an intensive course. The visiting students also prepare presentations for the host students.
Sámi University College students and staff who visited Canada could see that in Nunavut Arctic College they use local people and communities as a resource of more effective learning. They saw during the exchange igloo building, handcrafting etc., when local people taught the students about their traditional life.
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