II. Norgesseminar:Bergen -
Oslo
20.08.00 - 26.08.00
a. Senter for internasjonalt universitetssamarbeid
Director Ulf Lie (and his charming dog) welcomed us with refreshments and a complex introduction into the world of international educational exchange. He explained the history and current administration of SIU, its connections to NORAD, the Nordic Council, and the European Commission, and the significance of Mjøs-utvalget and Lykke-utvalget for the future of Norwegian participation in student exchanges. We were able to explore potential connections among institutions of higher education in Europe and the U.S. and learn about the searchable databases SIU develops as well as the website it maintains.
b. Bergens vekst: urbanske perspektiver
Professor Per Jonas Nordhagen, art historian at the University of Bergen, presented a well-illustrated slide lecture affording an overview of Bergen's history from the Middle Ages through the period of industrialization, the modernization after the great fire of 1916, and the post World War II additions in funkis style. He answered various questions, led us on a walk through the oldest German section of town, and sent us off to tours of the Bryggen excavation and museums.
c. Christian Michelsens Institutt for videnskap og åndsfrihet
Astri Kamsvåg, CMI's chief information officer, welcomed us and introduced us to the library resources, followed by a presentation of the institute's major programs over coffee and pastries in a spacious conference room. We received the annual report for 1999, asked many questions about the fellows and facilities, and were impressed and inspired by the scope and depth of the research being done in areas as diverse as human rights and natural resource management.
d. Senter for vitenskapsteori: Om Bergensfilosofene, historikk og frem til dagens "skoler"
Professor Gunnar Skirbekk was well prepared, despite our early arrival, to give us a whirlwind account of Nordic philosophy as presented to the Chinese in "Philosophy Beyond Borders." He continued to probe the question of the uniqueness of Nordic philosophy from a geo-cultural and political point of view, before zeroing in on Norwegian history of ideas. He explained the relationship between political climate and the slow growth of philosophy in Norway's nation-building era and its greater vitality in the post-war era. From its founding in 1957 the philosophy department of the University of Bergen has been a center of ferment and debate among generations of philosophers around the heritage of continental philosophy, particularly that of Kant, Wittgenstein and Heidegger and the extent to which philosophical language can be an adequate medium for expression or ethical action. Skirbekk passed around central texts on the history of ideas by various authors, alluded to many others, and presented us with copies of some of his own work to take home. This was extremely informative, as none of us is a specialist in philosophy.
e. Kulturbyåret: Bergen 2000
Journalist Jan H. Landro of Bergens Tidende presented the history of the selection process and development of programs in the European cultural cities, starting with Athens and leading to the selection of nine cities in the year 2000. He then outlined the pitfalls and dilemmas faced by the Bergen committee in their work, following close on the heels of and to an extent already eclipsed by the gigantic efforts put into the 1994 Olympic Games. This half-hearted and conflict-ridden undertaking was plagued by budgetary and administrative inconsistencies and suffered the lack of an overarching artistic vision or an adequate marketing strategy. Nonetheless, the status of cultural city has led to increased tourism during the first half of the year, several important cultural events, increased cooperation with the other 8 cities, and an improved understanding of the competency needed to organize major international events.
f. NHOs virksomhet i inn-og utland
At our first scheduled stop in Oslo, Chief Information Officer Øyvind Lind Petersen served lunch and a colorful powerpoint presentation of the structure and work of NHO and their interaction with both management and labor in Norway. He discussed the future possibilities of a more American model of wage negotiations in light of the increasing privatization of the Norwegian economy and fielded multiple questions from the participants.
g. Aktuelle spørsmål i norsk utenrikspolitikk
Spesialråd Johan Ludvik Løvald discussed relations between Norway and the EU, Russia, the Balkans, North America and numerous remote crisis areas in which Norway has some political or peace-keeping role. He discussed international security, refugee problems and Norway's hopes (now fultilled!) of getting a seat on the UN security council for the first time since 1980. He answered questions about the change in government, the prospects for EU membership, and the increasing difficulties of Nordic co-operation under current circumstances.
h. Besøk på Filmens Hus/Norsk Filminstitutt
After a fascinating tour of selected portions of the film museum, the participants gathered in the auditorium for an orientation by Lise Gustavson, who showed us the video "Min bestemor strøk kongens skjorter", distributed the new monograph "Ansikt til Ansikt: Liv Ullmann og Filmen" and advised us on use of film in the classroom, as well as gave tips on how to order films from the institute's large collection.
i. Nobelinstituttet
Head Librarian Anne Syfilie Kjelling invited us into the Nobel ceremonial hall where she presented a colorful history of the man, the prize, and the work of the insitute, distributed information in English and Norwegian, answered numerous questions, and allowed us to tour the committee's deliberation room and view the photographs of all previous Peace Prize winners.
j. Antirasistisk senter
Nadim Butt, Henrik Lunde and several of their coworkers joined us for coffee and lunch and a dialogue about the work of the center, current issues among immigrants, publications and educational programs, including the magazine Samora, the radio broadcasts, and the preparation of other cross-cultural information, such as the religious holiday calendar for schools. We received information packets on the center, copies of Samora and several of us purchased the calendar and supporting materials.
k. Besøk på Telenor Expo
We were gathered in an elegant conference room for an initial welcome and powerpoint presentation by Sissel Faller, Steinar Osterman, and Siri Lin Brekke on the local and international operations, Telenor Corporate University, and the major expansion of Telenor into new areas of telecommunications. Prospects for the notation of Telenor on the international stock market this fall were discussed, followed by a virtual reality presentation by Knut Ramstad of the plans for the fabulous new IT center at Fornebu in the high-tech "visionariet". The failed merger with Telia and other international business prospects were discussed in the question and answer period. Participants received information packets and brochures on the history of the company as well as souvenir ballpoint pens.
l. Paneldebatt: "Oppbrudd og fornyelse. Norsk utenrikskulturell politikk 2001-2005"
This report had been distributed to all participants in Volda and we had read it in varying degrees of thoroughness, given the many other activities and minimum of freetime for reading. The three panel members, Helge Rønning, Erik Rudeng, and Bjørn Kvalsvik Nicolaysen, were introduced by moderator Jan Gerhard Lassen from the Foreign Ministry's press division. All were well prepared and articulate and represented different viewpoints and levels of optimism concerning the export of Norwegian culture and the leverage it might provide in international politics. Rønning was perhaps the most pessimistic, claiming Norway has little culture to export and an ambiguous relationship to high culture. Nicolaysen focused on the difficulties of Norwegian lecturers working in foreign countries, the lack of formal structures to promote dissemination of culture abroad, and the need for more input by artists and a greater multiplicity of cultural exports. Rudeng, who headed the commission that authored the report, pointed out the underfunding of cultural exports in the national budget and the need for greater financial and administrative commitment (ie. state control) . During the discussion various strategies surfaced dependent on differing understandings of the target groups and political goals of cultural export.
m. Landsorganisjonens internasjonale (sam-)arbeid
The director of the international division Jon Ivar Nålsund explained the history, structure, central goals and routine work of LO, especially as regards wage negotiations, the strike fund, and reforms and improvements in working conditions and re-education of workers. He gave first-hand perspectives on the relationship between LO and the political process within Norway, as well as insights into the protection of the interests of Norwegian workers worldwide and examples of solidarity with labor organizations in 30 foreign countries, including the US. Nålsund informed us of the prospects for a change in leadership and provided many useful statistics on the make-up and activities of the LO membership.
n. Stortinget
This portion of the seminar, facilitated with expertise and humor by Tor Strand, included three main activities: 1) a tour of the Parliament Building at Løvebakken, including the legislative chambers and the hall for informal discussions and press meetings; 2) Strand's thorough and insightful overview of currrent government representation and prospective changes in the political barometer in the context of the critical issues and dilemmas facing Norway today; and 3) a fast-paced, hardhitting, but amicable debate between youth leaders Anniken Huitfeldt (AUF) and Berge Brende (Høyre). We concluded with lunch in the cantina and glimpses of several famous faces.
o. Social arrangements
Between (and often during) presentations we were treated to generous hospitality, delicious lunches and coffee, and festive dinners at outstanding restaurants in both Bergen and Oslo, concluding with an evening at Theatercafeen, where we were joined by additional resource persons, well-known cultural figures and journalists and old friends, including Vidar Sandem, Kristin Brudevoll, and Per Egil Hegge. We also enjoyed a private violin and piano concert as part of our tour of Ole Bull's home on Lysøen, followed by aromatic waffles in the giftshop café. Many exquisite details went into the planning of these extraordinary social events. In short, we were treated more like foreign dignitaries than humble academics. We were also given Oslo cards for individual and group sightseeing on the final Saturday, which several of us used for harbor and museum tours.
p. Evaluation
In the course of these 13 days we were informed and inspired by nearly 50 experts on a variety of topics from the current language situation to philosophy, history, architecture, music and film, immigration, labor relations, national and international politics, business, and technology. This was an unsurpassed continuing-education opportunity for professors of Norwegian abroad and has given us ample new information which we will put to use immediately in our classrooms this fall.
On behalf of NorTANA (the Norwegian Teachers' Association of North America) I would like to express deep appreciation for the co-ordinating efforts of Stephen Walton, Odd Monson, and especially Kjellaug Myhre, thanks to whom we are in a much stronger position than our university colleagues in other fields to bring relevant, up-to-date presentations to our students and to guide them to resources in offices and organizations in Norway, in the many publications we received, and on the internet.
Respectfully submitted,
Frankie Shackelford
Secretary, NorTANA Board
