Introduction to the Norwegian society.

Welcome to your first learning activity in this course! Here you will be able to use online resources as a preparation for the rest of the course, and it will provide you with background knowledge about the Norwegian society and welfare state before working together with our Norwegian students.

Learning outcome:

Prerequisite for completing the rest of the learning outcomes in this course.

Suggested literature:

You will be using the webpage Samfunnskunnskap.no Links to an external site. (nor: Social studies) in addition to the report "This is Norway Links to an external site."

Learning activity:

 

Individually:

Use one study day to read and study the Norwegian webpage for new immigrants, Samfunnskunnskap.no. Links to an external site.

On these pages you will find the syllabus for the course "50 Hours in social studies" for adult immigrants and the citizenship test. You are of course not going to take this test, but you will receive important information about Norway and about your rights, opportunities and obligations if you where going to be a part of the Norwegian society.

Digital learning resource:

View Associate Professor emeritus, Nils-Petter Karlsson, a keynote speech from IUW 2022 "The Norwegian Welfare State - More than just oil money":

View Prof. Halvard Vikes intervju regarding the Norwegian welfare system: Turn on English captions!

Answer these questions:

Join together with Norwegian students (if possible) and discuss: 

  • What are the typical characteristics of Norwegian and U.S. society? Discuss identified characteristics and similarities, as well as differences between these two communities
  • The U.S. is often described as `The land of Immigrants` while Norway’s experiences with immigrants are of relatively recent date. In your view, how has Norway's history with immigrants been, and how has it affected Norwegian society?
  • Looking at the above-referenced pages, there seems to be an emphasis on participation in working life both in Norway and in the U.S.  Why is such participation important in both societies?  
  • What are among the most important health challenges in the U.S. compared to Norway? 

Deliver an individual a reflection note of approx 300 words in this assignment.