Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English

Recommended previous knowledge

One or more year(s) of a bachelor’s degree or higher in Education, Special Needs Education, Teacher Education, Humanities or Social Sciences. Good English language skills. Participation in an information event prior to the course. Please note that if you have previously taken PED243 or are planning to take part in PED243 in the future (ValiDE Erasmus+ project) participation in this summer school is not recommended due to high thematic overlap and ECTS will only be given for one of these courses.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to

Knowledge

• compare and contrast knowledge of central themes, theories, and different value approaches within the fields of democracy and human rights education

• formulate a general understanding of the history, traditions, values, developments, and characteristics of democracy and human rights in Norwegian education

Skills

• apply the overall principles of democracy and human rights to the analysis of educational practices in Norway and other countries

• identify and critically reflect on information relating to history, ethics, and education in the light of democratic values and human rights

General skills

• demonstrate awareness of diverse cultural values and beliefs, and approach these differences in accordance with the ethical standards of educational professionals

• work independently and together with others to achieve enhanced understanding of the process of participation and citizenship for educational opportunities

Contents

The course is ideal for students who are interested in an international perspective on democracy and human rights education. It provides knowledge about democratic issues and global trends related to history, culture, ethics, and education. Furthermore, the course will give the students comparative analytical skills and broaden their understanding of democracy and human rights in various cultures.

The course revolves around how democracy is related to educational issues in societies with an emphasis on the following areas: (1) Democracy and education - a historical introduction, (2) Discourses within democracy and human rights education, (3) Role of the Sámi as Indigenous People in Norway and Norwegian education (4) Human rights and their preservation (5) Critical thinking and diversity in educational contexts.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning methods will involve a combination of dialogue-based lectures, excursions, and group work in the future lab. Students’ active participation in instruction and prioritising additional time spent on self-study and preparing for the course is required.

Examinations

The exam consists of two parts:

(1) Group presentation on the last day of the course

(2) A written group report (3000 words) reflecting on the group’s collaboration and result.

Graded assessment.

Group presentation and written group report in English.

Student evaluation

The course is to have an end course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Other information

Please note that if you have previously taken PED240, PED243 or PED432 or are planning to take part in PED240, PED243 or PED432 in the future, your total ECTS from these courses will be reduced by 3 due to a thematic overlap between these courses.

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course Reduction of Credits
PED240 – Democracy and Education, PED243 – Values and Democracy in Education and PED432 – Democracy and Education. 3
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:06:40 AM