Introduction

The study programme has been developed to meet the growing need for multicultural understanding and expertise within several sectors. Norway is a multicultural society, and part of the world community through increased trade, communications networks, internationalisation and globalisation. The need to develop global understanding and expertise in multicultural work has become an important area of policy in Norway today.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

Target group

The study programme is especially aimed at people who wish to gain expertise in multicultural understanding. For instance, employees in the health, social, cultural and educational sectors at municipal, regional and national levels; also the police, and unemployment and social security departments. The study programme is also relevant for people working in international environments, or those who wish to work in international settings. In addition, the study programme is also relevant for people working within non-governmental humanitarian organisations, and those in the private sector who work internationally, or are concerned with global trends and tasks.

Admission requirements
The minimum admission requirements is a 3-year degree obtained at university /university college; however, an application for admission can also be made on the basis of prior experiential accreditation. People with multicultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Aim of the Programme

The aim of the study programme is to provide students with knowledge and professional expertise in multicultural work. Students will gain expertise in interdisciplinary collaboration across professions and departments in the private and public sectors, through knowledge of each others’ work, roles and responsibilities. They will also develop knowledge and understanding of globalisation’s substantive and institutional dimensions, development and consequences for migration processes, and immigration and refugee policy in Europe.
The study programme provides a general introduction to key concepts in multicultural awareness, knowledge of international migration, and its causes and consequences for individuals, families and society. It will also focus on Norwegian asylum and immigration policies, the Norwegian Alien Act and international agreements, human rights and international conventions which Norway has signed.
Central is also the Norwegian policy towards indigenous people, exemplified through knowledge and understanding of the Sámi people and national minorities in Norway. In addition, indigenous issues generally, related to rights, history, tradition and autonomy, will be dealt with in a global perspective.

Furthermore, the study programme will focus on exploring theoretical concepts by integrating knowledge, understanding and knowledge to help students develop expertise in managing multicultural challenges in a professional manner. In light of this, it is considered particularly important to focus on communication in order to create conditions for better understanding in multicultural contexts.

Further Education opportunities

The study programme will qualify successful candidates for work which requires multicultural competence.
The study programme comprises 60 ECTS credits. The study programme is not part of a Master’s degree study programme; however, it may form the basis for an application concerning the reduction in study requirements when seeking admission to Master’s degree study programmes. The college to which the application is made must approve any reduction.

The study programme seeks to meet the competency requirements needed by those who work with multicultural issues at local, national and international levels.
Students will become better equipped to meet the challenges that individuals and professionals face in a multicultural society, especially considering the changes in the composition of the population. The curriculum emphasises breadth and depth within the extensive and complex areas that multicultural work encompasses.

Curriculum and structure

Instruction will be given in concentrated teaching blocks (workshops) in the daytime, which normally will be three 3-day workshops every semester. The study programme can be combined with full time employment, but it requires that employers provide students with leave so that they will be able to attend workshops; and also students will need to set aside time for individual study / work in groups.

1st year: Major course unit: Multicultural Understanding 30 credits

1. Different Constructions of Reality 7.5 ECTS - Science, knowledge and rationality - Health, disease and lifestyles - World views and self-image 2. Modernity, Globalisation and Identity 7.5 ECTS - Modernity’s basic institutional dimensions - Content and consequences of globalisation (local and global) - Identity policies 3. International Migration and Norwegian Immigration 7.5 ECTS - International migration (voluntary and forced migration) - Norwegian refugee and immigration policy - International agreements, human rights and the Norwegian Alien Act 4. Culture and Ethnicity 7.5 ECTS - Norwegian culture, tradition and nationalism - Ethnic discrimination and racism - Indigenous people and ethnic minorities

2nd year: Major course unit: Competence in Multicultural Work (30 ECTS credits)

1.Intercultural Communication 5 ECTS - Different Constructions of Reality - Communication and complexity 2. Adolescence and Life Cycle 5 ECTS - Parenting and family patterns - Upbringing of children and young people with immigrant backgrounds - Children with special care needs 3. Development of Multicultural Competence 5 ECTS - Multicultural education - Psychosocial work 4. Project Assignment in Multicultural Work 15 ECTS - Theory and method - Writing assignments - Group process

Teaching and Learning Methods

The workshops will include lectures and some group work; students will be encouraged to form study groups in the first workshop, when an introduction to the web-based learning platform Fronter will also be given. A separate room will be created in Fronter for the study programme, Multicultural Work, where messages from the study programme coordinator will be posted; key documents such as the syllabus, semester schedule and past examination papers will also be available on Fronter. Fronter will also give students the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to discussions related to academic content.
In the first year, students will be given an introduction to key themes, theories, concepts and perspectives. In the second year, workshops will focus more on cross-disciplinary issues, and students will study multicultural education and psycho-social work, as well as cross-cultural / intercultural communication; concerning the latter topics, a creative workshop may be used.
The study programme’s integrated method of learning, requirements regarding skills development, collaboration and reflection, requires continuity and the student’s participation. The students are responsible for their own learning, but they also affect their peer learning environment, especially where group work is involved. It is assumed that the students participate in various learning initiatives organised by the college. Some workshops require mandatory participation; however, students may apply for exemption, but the application must give valid reasons. The semester schedule will give information concerning the mandatory workshops. It is expected that students participate in most workshops, as these constitute the only possibility for them to receive teaching.

Assessment Methods

First year
Course Code: 983FLE1 ST1 Course requirements 1
Course requirements: Individual written assignment. Students will choose a topic from any of the curriculum’s core subjects (roughly 3000 words).
Assessed on a pass / fail basis.
This course requirement must be fulfilled before students will be allowed to take the examination.
Course Code: 983FLE1 000 Multicultural Understanding 30 ECTS credits
Written examination (invigilated), 8 hours, without examination aids.
The first year must be passed in order to continue on the second year.
Second year
Course Code: 000 983FLE2 Competence in Multicultural Work 30 ECTS credits.
In the second year, students will complete a project assignment and will be given an individual oral examination. Written and oral examinations will count 50% each. Students must receive passing marks for their project assignment before they will be allowed to take the oral examination. In the oral examination, students may be given questions from the whole of the syllabus (both years of study), as well as their project assignment.
Assessment will be given on a scale from A to F, where E is the minimum passing grade. A letter grade will be given for each year of study, as well as an overall letter grade for the study programme.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean