Workshop on double degrees
International double degrees offer great opportunities for students to grow in different cultural environments, and to absorb the best qualities from two institutions with different academic strengths. They also increase employability across countries, and can reduce risks associated with taking a degree wholly in another country. But what are the challenges -- whether academic, cultural, or organizational -- of running such programmes between Chinese and Nordic institutions, and what lessons can be used to optimize collaborations and create the best programmes for students?
On Monday, October 17, in connection with the fall Council Meeting in Shanghai and the following biannual conference, Nordic Centre will host a workshop addressing these questions, drawing on experiences from member university faculty who have been central to running and teaching in double degrees within a variety of academic disciplines. It will also invite Nordic and Chinese company representatives to give their view on what it takes to enter the labour market in a foreign country. If your university has a double degree programme with a Chinese partner that you wish to develop, or if you're considering launching one, this workshop is intended for you or your colleague.
Programme subject to change. Final programme will be sent out in early October.
10:00 Welcome and introduction, by principal organizers Urban Strandberg and Hilde Skeie
10.20 Presentations of existing or planned double or joint degree programs
Double master’s degrees in European Studies, International Administration and Global Governance, and Political Science [University of Gothenburg, Fudan University, beginning in 2017]
Presented by Associate Professor Urban Strandberg, University of Gothenburg
Parallel Master’s degree in China Studies [University of Copenhagen, Zhejiang University, University of Oslo, Stockholm University, Aarhus University; since 2012]
Presented by Professor Jørgen Delman, University of Copenhagen, and Associate Professor Qu Haidong, Zhejiang University
FuTuRE: Double master’s degree programme in information and communication technology [University of Turku, Fudan University, since 2013].
Presented by Professor Ran Liu, Fudan University
Double master’s degree in Sustainable Energy [NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiaotong University] Presented by Professor
Assoc. Professor Yong Li, Shanghai Jiaotong University , and Professor Trygve Eikevik, NTNU
Various social science double master’s degrees [Lund University, Fudan University, since 2011]
Presented by Senior Lecturer and International Coordinator Kjell Nilsson, Lund University
MARIHE - Master’s Degree Programme in Research and Innovation in Higher Education [University of Tampere, Beijing Normal University]
Presented by Professor Liu Baocun, Beijing Normal University, and Adjunct Professor Cai Yuzhuo, University of Tampere
Advantages of Double Degrees and Joint Programs – motivations and models
Presented by Dr. Andreas Göthenberg, Executive Director, STINT, The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
The BI-Fudan MBA program [BI Norwegian Business School, Fudan University's School of Management, since 1996]
Presented by Professor Benedicte Brøgger, Associate Dean EMBA and BI-Fudan MBA
Administrative perspective on double degrees
Presented by International Education Adviser Esko Koponen, University of Helsinki
12.00 Plenary discussion
13.00 Lunch
14.30 Business representatives’ perspectives on how double degree could facilitate students entrance in foreign labour markets
Mette Leger, Founder and Managing Director, Growth HR
Dan Bjørke, Chairman of Norwegian Business Association
15.30 Group-based discussions for the exchange of experiences and ideas, and with the special task of coming up with ideas for the Nordic Centre compilation of a “Double degree A to Z”
16.30 Coffee break
17.00 Reports from the groups and discussions
18.00 Concluding remarks: “Double degree A to Z” and the role of Nordic Centre in promoting and support Sino-Nordic double degrees
18.30 End of workshop
Main organizer: Urban Strandberg, Associate Professor at Gothenburg University,
Co-organizer: Hilde Skeie, Head of Office of International Relations, NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology