Management

Rector Gunnar Stave
Pro-Rector Arne Kåre Topphol
Director Jacob Kjøde jr.
Organisation

Contact Volda University College

 

Volda University College

Volda University College offers several bachelor programmes and other undergraduate level programmes and courses. In addition, we offer postgraduate programmes: a Master’s Degree in Planning and Governance and a Master’s Degree in New Norwegian Written Culture, as well as postgraduate diplomas.

Volda University College consists of the following faculties:
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Media and Journalism
- Faculty of Social Sciences

Volda University College is the central academic institution i Norway in two areas: Studies in Nynorsk language and Broadcast Journalism Education.

Why study in Volda?

There are many good reasons for studying at Volda University College, social reasons in addition to the obvious academic ones. You will find highly motivated and qualified teachers and an active student association whose objectives are to promote the university college as a place of high professional standard.

With an academic staff of 150 and a technical and administrative staff of about 60, we at Volda University College and associated organizations are intent on offering the best service and welfare to our students. As the university college is relatively small, students will have good contact with other students and the staff. You will enjoy surroundings that provide the best conditions for studying, as well as social connections where common fields of interests will be at your elbow.

Programmes and professional studies

Bachelor’s degree programmes (180 ECTS credits):

- Preschool Teacher Education
- Media, Information & Communication Technology and Design
- Journalism
- Public Information
- Animation
- Planning and Governance
- Social Work
- Child Care

Master’s degree programmes (120 ECTS credits):

- Planning and Governance
- New Norwegian Written Culture

Postgraduate diplomas (60 ECTS credits):

- Film and Television Documentary
- Local Governance
- Certificate of Education

Professional studies (240 ECTS credits):

- General Teacher Education
- Catechetical Studies

Course survey

30 ECTS credit courses:

- Norwegian as a Second Language
- Norwegian History, Literature and Language
- Norwegian Language and Civilization for Foreign Students

30 and/or 60 ECTS credits courses:

- Drama
- Arts and Crafts
- Music
- English
- Norwegian
- Natural Science
- Social Studies
- Physical Education
- Outdoor Life
- Mathematics
- Information & Communication Technology

60 ECTS credit courses:

- German
- History
- Media Studies
- Social Science
- Religious Studies
- Catechetical Training
- Church Administration
- Christian Studies and Congregational Work (75 ECTS credits)

Intermediate/advanced courses:

- Drama (30 ECTS credits)
- Religious Studies (30 ECTS credits)
- Outdoor Life (60 ECTS credits)
- Music (60 ECTS credits)
- History (30+30 ECTS credits)
- Norwegian (30+30 ECTS credits)
- Public Governance (60 ECTS credits)
- Teaching 6-10 year olds (30+30 ECTS credits)
- Special Needs Education (30+60 ECTS credits)

Volda - a college town

Altogether about 3000 students are registered in Volda. They add a considerable number to Volda’s 8000 inhabitants as well as being a most important cultural and economic source for the community.

How to get here

You can get to Volda direct by air from Oslo and Bergen. Buses run daily to and from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Ålesund.

The surroundings

Volda is situated by the fjord and surrounded by magnificent mountains, which offer many opportunities for active outdoor life. Skiers will find tracks, ski lifts and downhill courses especially attractive, conditions for wind-surfing, deep-sea fishing and angling are excellent, and the mountains are a haven for hikers and climbers.

Norway’s topography consists of a mountain plateau with deep valleys and fjords, and a long coastline. Norway’s climate is less severe in most areas than might be expected from its geogra-phical location. Norway is one of the Scandinavian countries. It is a constitutional monarchy with democratic political institutions. Norway has 4.3 million inhabitants distributed unevenly throughout the country. Oslo, the capital, has approximately 500,000 inhabitants.

A bigger map of Norway (345 K)

Organizations and activities

Many national organizations and societies have formed local groups in Volda, some primarily for students, others for local people and students alike: political groups, religious groups, sports clubs, charities as well as clubs for various hobbies and activities.

Numerous choirs, bands and orchestras enrich the cultural life in Volda. Volda University College has its own choir and symphony orchestra.

International contacts

One of our main objectives at Volda University College is to increase the number of foreign students in our courses. We want to promote and implement student- and teacher exchange within permanent international agreements.

NORDPLUS is the Nordic Council/Nordic Council of Ministers’ programme for the advancement of interrelationship between universities and institutions of higher education in the Nordic countries. Volda University College participates in several networks within the Nordplus programme; among these are Nordic Animation Network, Nordic Journalism Network and The Mother Tongue in Nordic Teacher Education.

SOKRATES – ERASMUS is the European Community programme in the field of higher education. Volda University College participates in this programme.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS The Faculty of Media and Journalism has a student- and teacher exchange programme with Mangalore University, India.

The Faculty of Education has a student exchange programme with Washington College, USA.

Within the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Department of Social Studies has an agreement with the University of Lithuania, and the Department of Religious Studies has in co-operation with Ten Sing Norway, a study programme located in several countries, mainly in Eastern Europe.

International standard

In order to facilitate international exchange and equalization of studies, Volda University College, like other institutions of higher education in Norway, has implemented ECTS – European Credit Transfer System. One year of full time study equals 60 ECTS credits.

Courses for foreign students

Norwegian Language and Civilization for Foreign Students

This one-year preparatory course is especially designed for foreigners who plan to pursue further studies at Norwegian institutions. The main target group is students who at present are natives of Eastern Europe and countries in Africa and Asia. It is also well suited for foreign English-speaking students who wish to learn Norwegian.

Physical Education and Outdoor Life

Maintaining and developing a way of living in nature has a long tradition in our country. The focus of this course is on simple living and moving about in various nature environments, such as forests, mountains and coastal regions. The course consists of three ten-week modules that may be taken separately, each focusing on different outdoor activities depending on the season, such as rowing and sailing in traditional wooden boats, canoeing, kayaking, skiing and glacier hiking. Some of the themes dealt with are rescue of companions, shelters in an emergency, food and drink on hikes and nature philosophy.

Norwegian History, Literature and Language

This one semester course gives an insight into the literature, language and history of Norway. It consists of two modules, the first one covering the period before 1890, the second one from 1890 until today. The syllabus is in English, and so are the lectures. The course content is Nordic medieval literature and literature from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Ibsen and Hamsun, as well as more recent texts. The language part has a historical perspective and gives examples of how Norwegian place-, farm- and family names have developed. The course gives a broad outline of Norway’s history from the Viking era until the present day with history lessons hand in hand with the literature and language.

Research work at Volda University College

Volda University College has a variety of research activities with a basis in the diverse courses and programmes offered. The university college co-operates with Møreforsking, the main research centre in the county of Møre og Romsdal, situated on campus.

The research work covers the following areas:

Education: The history of education, educational reforms, education and the stages of life
Culture: History and language (Norwegian, English, German), New Norwegian written culture. Volda University College is the national centre for teaching and research in the latter field.
Planning and governance: Local and regional planning and development, public organization and management, health and social services
Religion and Church studies: Religious studies and studies of the Church as a public institution past and present.
Media: Volda University College is the national centre for broadcast journalism education and research.


Student accomodation

There are several student residences in Volda, all within walking distance to the campus and service facilities. Each student residence offers furnished individual rooms with a telephone, cable TV access and free Internet access. 1-3 share the bathroom, 2-7 share the kitchen facilities. Hot meals and snacks can also be purchased on campus. For further information, contact:

Studentsamskipnaden for Sunnmøre
P. O. Box 278
N-6101 Volda
Norway
Tel: + 47 70 07 52 40
Fax: + 47 70 07 52 41

Homepage

Further reading

Study in Norway

Higher Education in Norway

Entrance requirements

Studying in Norway

 

Volda University College

P. o. box 500, N-6101 Volda, Norway. Phone: +47 70 07 50 00. Fax: +47 70 07 50 51

 

 

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