Sometime things doesn’t go as planned… that doesn’t make it less interesting.
The original plan was a visit to the Faroe Islands in 2019 to gain insight and inspiration from the University of the Faroe Islands and the Bachelor of Social Education studies. The plan was unfortunately postponed, and then in 2020 the epidemic of Covid-19 prevented the visit. Finally, the visit was succeeded in October - November 2021.
Both Greenland and the Faroe Islands has a history as colony of Denmark and are still a part of the Danish monarchy even though the countries now more or less are independent and have autonomy. The population are similar from around 50.000 – 56.000 inhabitants but with big differences in the sizes of the countries and infrastructure between cities and small communities.
The staff from Perorsaanermik Ilinniarfik were interested in comparatives concerning resources and competencies in the social efforts and to bring home perspectives to qualify the education of the futures social educators in Greenland. Their purpose was to gather knowledge of social conditions in the Faroe Islands and get inspired by the work of social educators in general and especially with focus on the way they incorporate the nature and surroundings in their work with children, youngsters, and disabled people.
They visited the child welfare center in Torshavn and five different schools and institutions in the area.
Beside the visits mentioned above, they were looking forward to finally meet their colleges at the University of Faroe Islands but sometime things doesn’t go as planned. The COVID-19 infection was in outbreak, and the University introduced new restrictions the day before their visit. Despite mutual annoyance they arranged a zoom meeting for exchanging different topics of relevance for both parts - with hopes for future collaboration contributes to meet in “real life”.
Thanks to AneMina Goliathsen, Head of Section in Nuuk, and Marianne Nissen, Head of Deputy (Ilulissat), for sharing their story about their staff mobility!