Sweden provides experiential learning opportunity for SDA students
While most students were enjoying a respite during summer intercession, twelve students
from the Student Development Administration (SDA) program were in class—but not
on the Seattle campus. Their classroom was Sweden, a country with a high
standard of living, a free education system and a rich history that provided a
plethora of learning opportunities for the students.
Embarking on his third experiential learning course in Sweden, Dr. Jeremy Stringer, SDA Program
Director, set out with his graduate student group on a 10-day journey that
included stops in Stockholm and Uppsala. The course, Comparative Education and Social Policy, gave students a chance to
learn about social justice, examine one of the oldest and leading higher
education institutions in the world, and discover the secrets to Sweden’s
successful Western economy.
Stringer
says Sweden is a perfect country for students who have never ventured from the
United States to learn outside the classroom as English is nearly universal and
public transportation is easy to navigate.
The higher
education system is managed by the government, which appoints university presidents,
explains Stringer. Post-secondary education is provided free to citizens, and a
student service, Drivhuset, encourages
entrepreneurship among young adults. “Swedish people tend to trust that their
government is working for the common citizenry,” he said.
The students
learned about the social welfare system and one of the most integral values among
the people of Sweden: Lagom, which
means “just enough” or having things in moderate amount.
“It is the
way of life in Sweden,” explains Stringer. “This ‘just enough’ mentality allows
those who work to attain what is a comfortable lifestyle and give back, through
taxes, to those who don’t.” Lagom has
elevated Sweden to be one of the most envied economies in the world and has
almost eliminated poverty nation-wide.
Stringer,
who has traveled the world (most recently as the Dean of Students on the
Semester at Sea voyage in Fall 2010), has led two other trips to Sweden in 2007
and 2009. He feels this course helps SDA students understand how other
countries view global education. This knowledge will better prepare them for
professions at colleges where the population of international students
continues to rise.
There are a high number of international students who study in American
universities. University administrators need to understand these students’
cultures and how their social and educational systems work. We need to prepare
our SDA students to be administrators who are sensitive to the needs of
international students.”
Several
students wrote blogs during the trip, and all had to write scholarly papers
when they returned. Keep reading for in-depth student perspectives and more
details on the course from the student blogs.
Student Reflections from Comparative
Education and Social Policy Course
Sweden, August 2011
Erin Miller
“This class
experience was not simply learning about higher education or social policies in
a different context; it was an invitation to see the world through a different
perspective.”
“Since returning from Sweden, many people have
asked about my trip. Most inquirers assume I was on holiday enjoying my days
strolling down picturesque lanes, sipping coffee at quaint cafes, and gazing at
magnificent works of art or historical treasures. And while I did, indeed, do
all of those wonderful things while in Sweden, it is not why I was in the
country. A majority of my time in Sverige was spent in academic seminars
facilitated by Uppsala University Professors and Staff discussing social
policy, political climates and the history of Social Democracy in the Nordic
States.”
“As a Social
Democracy, residents of Sweden pay significant taxes and receive significant
benefits: free education, low cost healthcare, child subsidies, and employment
protection… The people of Sweden share an understanding that if everyone gives
enough, then all of society will have enough. It is not a concept of wealth
redistribution but one of social security and care for the other.”
“Experiential
classes like the Sweden course are exceptional because they immerse the student
in a situation and provide a tangible context for understanding complex
concepts. I could read about the history of the Swedish people an their
transition to a Social Democracy, but spending time in discussions with
students to hear their opinions on social policies forces a deeper interaction
with the material. In classes like these, where understanding and curiosity mix
in a real life context, education occurs.”
Courtney Stringer
“Breakfast
was not ready when we arrived, as we were probably the only people in the hotel
who were up, so the three of us sat in the hotel lobby for several minutes
researching Swedish words on Google translator. I was shocked to find out that
Google translator will then read the word to you in Swedish so you can hear how
to say the word properly, or at least according to Google. We figured that if
we were going to take the time to be in another country, we might as well make
the most of our experience and learn how to communicate, if only a few words.
Because Stephanie and I both have blonde hair, several people assumed that we
are Swedish, so they spoke Swedish to us. This pushed both of us to want to
know how to say basic words like “thank you,” “excuse me,” and “I don’t speak
Swedish.”
“One major
highlight of the Uppsala University tour was the Museum Gustavianum. The museum
is housed in the university’s oldest preserved building with the Anatomical
Theatre on the roof. Exhibited at the museum are the Augsburg Art Cabinet,
discoveries from the Viking period, the history of the University, and mummies.
The anatomical theatre was built in 1662 and was used as a classroom for
teaching medicine. Up until 1766 dissections were carried out in front of
medical students on the bodies of criminals who had been executed.”
“A common
theme throughout our time in Sweden was the social welfare system offered by
the Swedish government to its citizens, thanks to the taxes that they pay. Why
does the country give its millionaires the same amount of child allowance that
it gives its poorest citizens? The answer is because the country as a whole
values equality amongst the classes. Equality is so important, that Sweden hardly
has any poverty anymore. This type of social welfare system that benefits the
rich and the poor the same, helps remove the stigma that only those who need it
are getting support. Instead the government is supporting everyone”
Brandon Lueken
“I spend the
morning exploring. I find castles, confusing modern art, a ship that doubles as
a hotel, and then my favorite place in Stockholm: Djurgarden. It is an island that
doubled as the King’s summer estate and is incredibly beautiful. I walk around
the whole thing, roughly eight miles. “
“Today I
walked to three more islands. I will have set foot on nine of Stockholm’s 14
islands before I leave.”
“Originally,
I jumped on the opportunity to take a class in Sweden because I had never been
abroad before. However, I have no burning passion to study anything in
particular in Sweden, just something non-American. I discover over time that
one of the reasons I am here is to dig deeper into difference and confront my
own assumptions.”
“We talked
about culture shock, and I was able to more thoroughly examine my perceptions
of Swedish culture. It seemed to me as if the volume had been turned down in
this country. People spoke quieter, the cars were quieter, even general street
noise seemed quieter. The overall effect has been quite unnerving on me,
something I just realized. I was seeking ways to be loud, to feel more at home,
which in turn was perhaps making me more stereotypically American.”
“Our last
day in Sweden. We had class in the oldest room, in the oldest building on
campus, where the King meets every year to officially open school.”