A multicultural classroom that broadens students' perspectives on cultural differences.
HiOA offers several master's degree programmes in English with students coming from all over the world to attend. The Master's Degree in International Social Welfare and Health Policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences is an example of one of these programmes. Many Norwegian students at HiOA have taken the opportunity to study in an international environment by taking this course.
Master's Degree in International Social Welfare and Health Policy (MIS)
Stuart Deakin, student advisor at the Faculty of Social Sciences (SAM), describes the master programme as the only one of its kind, combining both international health policy and international social welfare policy. The programme provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop and manage social and health policy at a high level. A class of 32 students started the master's programme this year, where 26 are international students and six are Norwegian students. This year is the first where the students from bachelor degrees in applied social sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences (SAM) are able to apply directly to this master's degree.
A great opportunity
Among the students that chose to apply directly are Marit Moe (25) and Silje Winterkjær (24). They started their Master's Degree in International Social Welfare and Health Policy approximately five months ago. "I would not have felt ready to start on a master's degree directly from a bachelor's degree if it was not for this great opportunity", says Moe. "It extends our horizons and gives us a broadened perspective on what we have learned during our bachelor's degree", says Winterkjær, adding that the master's degree focuses on a political and structural level of analysis with regards to social work, as opposed to the individual level. "You can say that we see a broader context", she concludes. They both hope and expect to be able to apply for a wide range of relevant positions after completion within the fields of health policy and social welfare on an international level.
Would you recommend this international learning environment to other students?
"Yes! It is so interesting! The way we learn about other cultures at the same time as we get to understand structural thinking in a broader perspective is a good combination", says Moe enthusiastically. In addition, they get to improve their English as well. The fact that the programme is international is entirely positive for the girls. "We get examples from all over the world, all in one classroom".
"I think we get to see global issues like social challenges with a differentiated gaze than in a degree with only Norwegian students", explains Moe.
An international master's degree can broaden your horizon
Both girls agree that the international setting in the classroom broadens their horizon. The Norwegian students experience the effect of an international environment on their learning about the health- and social welfare systems in different countries. The international students bring a lot of new knowledge and experience with them into discussions, and contribute to the international perspective of the programme. The international students are also taking knowledge about the Nordic welfare model back to their home countries. All students are encouraged to do fieldwork outside Norway. Several of the international students in Norway travel back to their home countries to do their field studies there, whilst Norwegian students can choose a country to conduct fieldwork themselves.
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