Course Objectives

The course will provide students with an understanding of important sport policy topics, and of how sports and outdoor activities are organised in the public sector, in organised sports and in businesses associated with this field. The training period will provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills from the course, and they will learn to take responsibility for the execution of the tasks they are assigned during this period.

Course Description

The course covers the leading organisations and institutions associated with physical education, sport and outdoor life in Norway. Administrative procedures are a vital part of the course. Students will be given responsibility for the planning, organisation and practical execution of a sports arrangement such as a soccer tournament, a track and field event, winter-week activities for foreign students, and/or an obstacle-course competition or similar event.

Course topics:

• public administration and culture/sport-related policies
• regulations and procedures
• forms of public funding for sports and outdoor activities
• structure of sport and outdoor life organisations and other organisations and institutions
• sports and volunteer work
• sports and the commercial marketplace
• planning, organising and executing various types of sports arrangements

Learning Methods

Roughly 2 hours per week over 2 semesters. Obligatory inspection tours, sport policy assignments, study tours and arrangement duties. The main teaching method for this course will be lectures, but inspections of various locations, in which students will be introduced to how sports and outdoor activities are administered, will also constitute an important aspect of the course. Students will also be given the opportunity to attend suitable seminars such as sports conferences. Student activities will also include arrangements, specialisation assignments, guidance and study tours. Active student participation in discussions and meetings will be emphasised.

Students must themselves seek appropriate training placements, and will receive assistance from the programme coordinator in contacting the involved parties and making arrangements for such placements. The training period will extend over a 3-week period in January. Suitable placements may be found in organisations, county municipalities, soccer clubs, outdoor organisations, sport teams and businesses, etc.

During the training period, students will work independently with assignments that have been approved by the supervisor from the training placement organisation. Afterwards, a report on the practical training must be submitted.

Assessment Methods

Specialisation in a self chosen sport policy topic (counting for 40 %) with a subsequent oral examination (counting for 60%).

Inspection reports: pass/fail. Arrangement reports: pass/fail. Practical training report: pass/fail. (All reports must be awarded a passing grade before the student may take the oral examination).

If students fail one or more examinations, students need only to take the examination in which they received a failing grade.

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