VERDDE UNIVERSITY CENTER OF MOBILITY IN INDIGENOUS EDUCATION samiskhs.no/verdde
SHARING EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE IN INDIGENOUS TEACHER EDUCATION The UArctic TN VERDDE was founded in 2004. Verdde is a sami word meaning “a mutually beneficial exhange”.
Overall Goal The overall goal of VERDDE - University Center for Mobility in Indigenous Education - is to strengthen cooperation within UArctic in the field of teacher training, teaching of Indigenous minority languages and cultures. Through this cooperation partners will be able to exchange information and develop cooperative programs and activities in the areas of education programs, professional faculty development, and research broadly related to the education of Indigenous people.
Cooperational Activities •• Promoting cross-cultural professional development of educators through university approved certificates, diplomas and degrees; •• Encouraging students, teachers, administrators, and university faculty to pursue improved teaching and learning practices through mutually recognized effective pedagogy; •• Offering high quality cross-institutional instructional programs that include exchange opportunities in each of the partner sites aimed at increased cross-cultural understanding, •• Exploring shared research interests among faculty and students from each of the institutions and international partners •• Assisting each other in the development of
exemplary curriculum and assessment strategies; •• Encouraging ongoing sharing of cultural resources and communication about educational issues using the internet and other electronic systems and technology; •• Promoting increased historical and contemporary understanding between and among Indigenous people throughout the world; •• Facilitating national and international exchange of students, faculty, and researchers to foster collaborative study and research.
Contact information Laila Aleksandersen Nutti Assistant professor of Education Sámi University College, Leader of TN VERDDE lailaan@samiskhs.no Linda Pemiq Senior Academic Officer, Nunavut Arctic College linda.pemik@arcticcollege.ca TN VERDDE coordinator Sámi University College verdde@samiskhs.no
Exchange Activities There will be opportunities for traditional individual exchanges such as for an entire semester. But it has come clear in Verdde project that is required for the exchange of groups and a shorter stay. There is a need to focus on a common systematic approach to the parties through this effort to bring forth indigenous strategies and priorities in higher education and exchanges will be an important part of this work and not just technical exchanges.
VERDDE: • Arctic State Institute of Culture and Art • North-Eastern Federal University • Nunavut Arctic College • Sámi Univesity College • University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Native Knowledge Network samiskhs.no/verdde