High North Dialogue: International perspectives on business and governance in the High North
Dates: April 3 – 7, 2017
Application deadline: February 15, 2017.
Course evaluation
Students by way of course evaluation studies (mid-term evaluation and final evaluation) evaluate the study program annually. These evaluations are included in the university’s quality assurance system.
The objective of the course
The course focuses on developing knowledge about opportunities for value creation in the high North, as well as on an international dialogue between interested parties concerned with High North. The High North resources are especially valuable due to global talks about decreasing oil and gas resources, and negative impacts of climate change. However, the High North is also a region with robust fish and seafood industries, which advocate for pristine environment. The interest for value creation in the High North is growing. Different debates include discovery and access to mineral and hydrocarbon resources in the Arctic, possibilities for new maritime routes, opportunities for Arctic tourism development, as well as support of indigenous communities and human resources in High North.
The scenario workshop is an important part of the course. During the scenario workshop, students will learn about different methodologies for scenario building and use one of them to produce scenarios on a predefined topic, working in multidisciplinary groups. In advance, students will be given a specific scenario topic developed by relevant stakeholders in the Arctic and relevant for the High North Dialogue conference.
As the part of education activities, Master students will take part at the High North Dialogue Conference 2017 organized by High North Center at Business School on April 5 -6, 2017. The focus of the conference is dialogue: the dialogue between young people and the Arctic regions’ representatives from industry – ranging from maritime to land-based industry, authorities and academics to share information and discuss the best practices in order to tackle challenges in the region. The topic of the 2017 conference is “Innovations in the Arctic”.
Expected learning outcome
Knowledge
Upon completion of the course, the students will have the knowledge and understanding about:
- Basic issues of High North region development based on geopolitical, economic, regulatory and stakeholders-oriented approaches from national and global perspectives.
- The theoretical underpinnings of foresight management in general and scenario building in particular
- Basic conceptual differences between prognosis, forecasting, trend projections and scenario building
- Basic components of scenario building methodologies with examples of the Shell methodology: assumptions, uncertainties and wildcards
- Institutional aspects and issues surrounding resource management and sustainable development of the High North.
Skills
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:
- Discuss and to analyze complex the interplay between the (geo)political, economic, legal, technical, environmental, etc. driving forces in terms of formulating the “structures of the future”
- Apply knowledge from different disciplines in formulating and presenting basic images of the possible future
- Discuss political, economic and legal foundations for sustainable High North development.
General competence
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:
- Analyze opportunities and challenges for implementing foresight management in organizations
- Demonstrate their communication skills by providing convincing arguments about their own worldview
- Display their creativity in solving potential challenges and problems for an organization
- Analyze barriers and challenges for sustainable development in the High North.
Prerequisties
Qualifications equivalent to a Bachelor degree.
Teaching activities and methods
- Face to face
- Lectures and scenario workshop April 3 – 7, 2017.
- High North Dialogue April 5 – 6, 2017.
Evaluation
- Oral presentation (Students will make a group presentation of their scenarios for an examination commission and deliver a 5-page group report summarizing the scenarios they have developed. Grade: passed/not passed).
- Written assignment counts for 100 % of the grade.
Costs
The graduate course fee, the conference fee, and meals during the events will be covered by the Business School, Nord University. Students will have to cover visa and travel costs themselves. We can cover accommodation in a student hostel, in rooms for 2-3 people, to a limited number of students. This will be distributed to the first students who apply and send enrollment documents before February 15, 2017.
Travel grant. A limited number of travel grants is provided to graduate students primarily from the US, Canada (University of British Columbia), China (East Normal China University) and Russia (NARFU and Tyumen State University). Grants are distributed upon evaluation of personal motivation letters, CV and school grades. For applying for travel grants, students are asked to send a motivation letter describing their motives to take part in the course in light of their academic/professional achievements and personal interest to the issues of the High North. Those applying for grant should deliver full packs of documents including motivation letters and CV before February 15, 2017.
How to apply?
Students of Nord University apply via STUDWEB, course EN313E.
Students from other universities apply for the program by sending the standard application form and enrolment documents. The application form is found on the official website. Detailed requirements for Russian and Ukrainian citizens are sent upon request. Enrollment documents include:
- A copy of passport,
- Copies of documents, confirming high school education. Master diploma with a transcript of records and bachelor diploma with a transcript of records,
- A copy of high school/secondary school certificate with an attachment,
- A confirmation of English language skills (TOEFL or IELTS certificate),
Important: If the original documents are not in English/Norwegian, they should be translated to English. Translations are to be verified at notary or your home university with a stamp and signature of a responsible person.
Enrollment documents are submitted to the e-mail of Elena Zhurova, adviser at the High North Center, elena.zhurova@nord.no by February 15, 2017.
Students will be notified about their enrollment after February 25, 2017. They will receive a confirmation letter with practical information.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.highnorthdialogue.no/master-course/