Program structure

Teaching and assessment

Student-centered teaching and learning methods with problem-based learning approaches, project work, group work, practical and methodical work with guidance are used throughout the study program, in addition to lectures, discussions, and the use of ICT. In other words, this involves a lot of self-directed and practical work indoors and outdoors for students. A large part of the study program takes place in nature and includes practical exercises and the development of experience.

Guide role experience will be obtained through a practical training period. This period will be carried out as interval sessions in the autumn semester and in a longer period in the spring semester. The period should consist of about 150 hours in total. The candidate will formulate a plan for the period, which must be approved by the teacher. The criteria for the period are given in a separate document, which candidates will receive at the start of the studies.

The following requirements must be approved before the candidate may be allowed to take the exam:

• Planning, implementation, and evaluation of practical training in a tourism business, including a practical training report.
• One hundred percent participation in all excursions, including preparation and follow-up work, and implementation of safety and rescue techniques on glaciers, sea, and mountains.
• Reports and any type of follow-up work (eg. Photo and video presentations, group work, etc.) after each trip. The teams will decide what type of work and preparation will be carried out in relation to each trip.
• Planning, implementation, and presentation of a group project on one of these student projects: polar night experience productions, the arrangement at the local sun-festival, arranging Camp Svalbard Winteror managing the guest in front of the summer ski excursion.
• Individual written assignment on the project concerning experience production, which must be submitted and receive a passing mark.
• Assignment on the theme of Arctic nature must be submitted and receive a passing mark.
• Pass the test to recognizing arctic plants, birds, and animals.
• Approved participation in the polar bear safety course and pass the polar bear safety and shooting test
• Approved participation in Arctic first aid and pass the first aid test.
• Approved participation on the glacier course and pass the companion rescue and glacier guide test.
• Approved participation on the multiday hiking excursion and pass the trip planning and navigation test.
• Approved participation on the arctic intro winter excursion and pass the GPS navigation and snow bivouac test.
• Approved participation on the avalanche course and pass the test on avalanche awareness and companion rescue.
• Approved participation in the sea ice course.
• Approved participation in the arctic winter skiing excursion.
• A summer ski trip will be carried out as a concluding activity of the academic year. Candidates working together will be responsible for the entire execution of the trip and will receive various assignments related to the role of guide; they will be evaluated as pass/fail by the teacher.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

• Have broad theoretical knowledge of topics related to safe travel and stay in the Arctic nature.
• Have theoretical knowledge about the leadership and horsemanship of groups in the nature-based on relevant research.
• Have theoretical knowledge essential in nature-based tourism, experience production, outdoor life, and eco-philosophy.
• Understand the nature, culture, history, and geopolitical conditions in the polar region.

Skills

• Have skills, methods, and routines for safe travel and stay in the Arctic nature. Have learned methods and through practice and guidance have achieved personal development aimed at being a host, mediator, and leader of groups in nature. Be able to identify methods to facilitate and impart knowledge, values, and good nature experiences.
• Have acquired adequate skills to be able to convey arctic nature and culture to their guests.

General competence

• Be aware of the requirements concerning the skills and competence they must possess as a nature guide in order to lead groups in a varied Arctic nature.
• Be aware of the responsibility nature guides have when leading groups in a demanding arctic nature.
• Have reflected on their own values in relation to experiencing nature, outdoor life, nature guiding role, and commercial tourism.
• Be aware of what role nature guides can play as ambassadors and friends of the vulnerable Arctic environment with regard to interaction with the guest.

Job prospectives

Future employment opportunities may be found primarily in guiding activities in the Arctic region. After completing the study program, students will have gained expertise that will be relevant for employment on the mainland in outdoor recreation, tourism, education, culture, and environmental stewardship, as well as in voluntary organizations. The tourism industry in Svalbard is unique in both national and international contexts; amongst other things, by having a strong concentration of nature-based tourism enterprises in which the guide has a central role in value creation, and where activities take place in a vulnerable and extreme environment.