International Student at Sámi University College

samas.no

2015 16

NEW IN GUOVDAGEAIDNU

Table of ContentFor our new students: Welcome to Sámi University College! 4

Diehtosiida – the Sámi Science Center 6

About the Sámi University College 7

Before arrival 8

Residence Permit for Students 8

Staying longer than three months 8

Staying for six months or more 8

Staying less than three months 8

D-number and bank account 8

Norwegian ID number 8

Opening a bank account 9

Prepaid visa electron card 9

Find an accommodation 10

What to pack? 11

Northern Norway and Sápmi 12

Guovdageaidnu 12

Upon Arrival in Guovdageaidnu 14

Things to do during the first weeks: 14

Getting to Know Diehtosiida 14

Student registration 14

Student card 14

The library 14

The gym 15

Student building and Students’ Union 15

Technology and Internet 15

Studying 15

Health & Emergency 16

National Insurance Scheme 16

X-ray 16

Dentist 17

Health Care 17

Tax card 17

Student Rates 18

Bookshop 18

Sámi University College on the Internet 18

Living costs in Guovdageaidnu 18

Useful Links 18

My life in Guovdageaidnu 19

Frontpage photo: John Anders Sikku, Sámi University College2

3

We are happy to welcome you as new students at Sámi University College! Exciting times are ahead of you. Your life and study will be full of new challenges, in new surroundings in the heart of Sápmi.

Sámi University College is a 25 years old indigenous institution of higher education and research. It is the only institution in the world, which is using the Sámi language in almost all activities! We are proud to offer you study programs in Sámi as a language of instruction. Many research projects are conducted in the Sámi language. Our university staff members are actively involved in develop-ment of Sámi language as means of research and outreach. Sámi language as used every day in our office work and business communications.

Sámi University College has built an extensive network of indigenous institutions around the world. International collaboration is important to capacity building. It gives essential experiences both to people and to institutions. We offer some studies in English. As a student, you have pos-sibilities to take some courses abroad. Through travelling and meetings with different people one can learn much about a great diversity of the world, as well as about tolerance and values.

We are located in a fashionable new building of Diehtosiida, which literally means Knowledge Com-munity. Diehtosiida is one of the best teaching

facilities in the North. Our infrastructure is devel-oped to suit the needs of our students, teachers, and researchers. Indigenous perspectives and Sámi traditional knowledge are an inherent part of our study programs and everyday life. Our courses incorporate the latest relevant research findings.

Sámi University College is situated in the vil-lage of Guovdageaidnu, in the central part of the traditional North Sámi area. Here you will hear people speaking North Sámi everyday and almost everywhere. You will get an excellent op-portunity to become acquainted with rich Sámi culture. You can see wonderful tundra, midnight sun and Northern lights. Northern nature offers you exciting activities all the year round. We are sure that here you will find something, which will make your days joyful and exciting.

Welcome to Sámi University College! Bures boahtin Sámi allaskuvlii!

Dearvvuođaiguin (which means Greetings in Sámi),

Rector

Do you have any questions? Email us - at postmottak@samiskhs.no - and we will be happy to help you out!

For our new students: Welcome to

Sámi University College!

4

5

Diehtosiida – the Sámi Science Center

Since the academic year 2009/2010 Sámi University College has used the facility of Diehtosiida. In addition to SUC a number of other Sámi institutions are also located in the Sámi Science Centre.

Therefore the Sámi Science Centre has become an international competence centre for Sámi and other indigenous peoples, where Sámi scientific functions have been gathered in a bigger environment.

The gross area of the building is 9367 m2 and Sámi University College is the biggest user of it. There are enough teaching rooms and office spaces for the PhD program. The students can also use group rooms.

SUC is using the PedIT education system that supports modern learning and social processes such as blogs, chatting, discussion groups and supervising rooms.

6

Sámi University College was founded in 1989, with the purpose of strengthening Sámi knowledge and enriching its culture. The College has a na-tional responsibility for Sámi teacher, journalist education, as well as Sámi higher education. In 2005 Sámi University College and the research institution Sámi Institute were merged into one educational establishment. Presently, this is also the only University College responsible for nur-turing the whole of Sámi culture.

Sámi University College (SUC) is the only higher education institution with Sámi as its primary lan-guage. All the courses at SUC are heavily infused with the Sámi and indigenous perspectives. We have, altogether, approximately 40 courses and we are continuously creating new courses align with the needs of society. At our university, you’ll find that the main three elements of the scientific basis are:

• Language and language development • Sustainable development and biodiversity • Sámi teaching and understanding

We have approximately 200 students and 80 em-ployees. Both our students and staff come from all over Sápmi: the Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish and Russian parts of Sápmi. In addition we have many international students who hail from the Northern areas. Sámi University College has strong collaboration with education institutions in the Arctic area through the University of the Arctic and with indigenous institutions in many areas of the world. We offer various courses concentrat-ing specifically on indigenous themes, as well as providing regular guest indigenous lecturers.

Sámi University College was founded in 1989, with the purpose to strengthen Sámi knowledge. Sámi University College has a national responsibility for Sámi teacher and journalist education and Sámi higher education. This is also the only University College responsible for caring for the Sámi culture. In 2005 Sámi University College and the re-search institution Sámi Institute were merged. !

About theSámi University College

7

Residence Permit for StudentsStaying longer than three monthsIf you are going to be a student in Norway for longer than three months, you must apply for a Residence Permit for Students: First, go to the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immi-gration: www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Studies/. Here you will be able to apply for a study permits either online or using paper application forms. Sámi University College will assist you with supporting with the necessary documentation for the application. A paper application form should be sent to the Royal Norwegian Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live, or where you have stayed for the last six months. If you fill in the form in Norway, then you may take it to your nearest police sta-tion. If you are in Guovdageaidnu, your nearest police station will be:

Staying for six months or moreIf you intend to stay in Norway longer than six months, you have two possibilities. One is to apply for a renewal of your study permit. You may do this by applying online, as you did the first time. You must apply for a renewal at least one month before your first permit ex-pires. The second option is to let the Norwegian National Population Register know that you have moved to Norway. They will then send you

your national ID number, which you may use for opening a bank account, applying for a tax card, etc. Contact the National Population Register at: www.skatteetaten.no/en/Bibliotek/Skjemaer/Alltid/Notification-of-move-to-Norway-from-abroad1/

Staying less than three monthsIf you are staying in Norway less than three months, then you may only apply for a visa before you travel, if you are from a country with visa require-ments. Students from EU/EEA/EFTA do not apply for a residence permit, but must notify their stay. To give notice of your stay, go to the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, https://selfservice.udi.no/, and notify your stay. Register also at your nearest police station. After notifying, you will receive confirmation free of charge. Learn more at www.udi.no/Norwegian- Directorate-of-Immigration/

D-number and bank accountNorwegian ID numberStudents staying for more than six months must register in the National Population Register at the local tax office. The nearest city where you can do this is in Alta, 1½ hours from Kauto keino.

When registering with the local Tax office, you’ll need to complete and submit the “Notfication of move to Norway From Abroad” Form. You must also bring the following:

Guovdageaidnu Police StationBredbukt nesveien 8NO-9520 GuovdageaidnuTelephone: +47 78 42 80 00

Before arrival

The tax office (Skatt Nord) is located in Alta, Løkkeveien 33, 9509 ALTA. Telephone: (+47) 800 80 000.

8

• Registration Certificate (EU students) or Resi-dence Permit Card (non-EU students)

• Passport• Tenancy contract• Admission letter

Opening a bank accountIf you are staying in Norway for less than six months, you must go to the bank and ask to open a bank account, where they will then apply for a D-number for you. Remeber that this is an extra service and that some banks might not be able to accommodate this request. If you are staying longer, you need to have a Norwegian ID number then just meet up personally at the bank of your choice.

In both cases, you must bring your National ID Card or passport.

Prepaid visa electron cardIf you dont have a D-number and you are not able to open a norwegian bank account, you can receive a prepaid visa electron card from the educational administration at Sámi University College. This card includes a certain amount of money to the student to use. To receive this card you have a to fill out a form at the educational administration. This card is for the student’s use only.

9

To find a place to stay in Guovdageaidnu, you can contact the student welfare association called Sis-Finnmárkku studeanta ovttastus – SSO. You should reserve accommodation some time before you arrive. You may pay the rent after arrival to Guovdageaidnu. SSO offers rooms, apartments, a kindergarten and also a cafeteria at Diehtosiida, the building where SUC is located. SSO has 20 family apartments and 16 rooms available.

Find an accommodation

SSO is open working days 9 a.m.–3 p.m.Telephone: +47 78 44 84 30Website: www.siif.no/E-mail: sso@samiskhs.no

10

Students who are coming to Guovdageaidnu must remember to bring along warm clothes, because in this area can be quite cold during both winter and summer,. During your studies you might be taking part in outdoor activities, so it’s best to be well prepared. You should especially remember to bring:

• A warm jacket (also to wear in the mountains)• A good hat that covers your ears, warm scarf

and mittens

• Woollen clothes (socks, long underwear and sweaters)

• Warm trousers (and insulated trousers during winter)

• Rain clothing• Good, warm boots or high shoes (remember:

snow and many degrees below freezing!)

What to pack?

Did you know that:

In the beginning of every autumn semester Sámi University College arranges an official opening of the new academic year!

This is a week long event, brimming with different activities for students and employees – a time to get to know each other, throughout the University College and Guovdageaidnu.

You are welcome to join in! !

11

Sápmi is the name of the area where Sámi people live, and it crosses the borders of four countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Sámi area stretches from the Kola Peninsula in the northeast to Engerdal in South Norway and Idre in Southern Sweden. The northernmost part of Norway is called Northern Norway, it covers the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. In the county of Finnmark lies Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino. This area is also called the land of the midnight sun.

GuovdageaidnuGuovdageaidnu is a small town on the continen-tal tundra, with approximately 3000 inhabitants. The winters can be cold here, with the dark pe-riod called skábma. The average temperature in February is -14.8°C. In the summer the midnight sun shines the brightest. Guovdageaidnu is a community where the basis is the Sámi way of life and its language. Most of the inhabitants use their native Sámi tongue, however you will be able to communicate in both English and Norwegian.

Guovdageaidnu is the largest reindeer area in Norway, and so the Sámi primary industries like reindeer husbandry, handicraft, fishing and hunt-ing are equally important in Guovdageaidnu, as are the modern jobs and institutions.

The name Guovdageaidnu can be translated as “in the middle of the road” in the Sámi language, and from time immemorial it is this place that has been a meeting place for nomadic people. For example, Easter has been and still is a particularly busy time here, with seasonal happening such as: weddings, reindeer races, concerts and more. Some of the big cultural events in Guovdageaidnu are Høstfestival, the Whitefish Festival (Čuovžafestivála), the Nilut Cup, the World Championship in Reindeer Racing, Watercross, the Sámi Easter Festival and the Sámi International Film Festival.

Learn more about Guovdageaidnu here: • www.kautokeino.kommune.no• www.kautokeino.net • www.kautokeino.nu

Northern Norway and Sápmi

12

13

Things to do during the first weeks:• Meet your contact person and get to know

Diehtosiida.• Register and receive the key card/student card.• Register at the police station.• Make an appointment for an x-ray, if needed.• Ask the bank to apply for a D-number for you,

if you wish to open a Norwegian bank account.• If you don’t have a D-number and Norwegian bank

account, receive a prepaid visa electron card.

Getting to Know DiehtosiidaIn 2009 Sámi University College moved to the new building called Diehtosiida. Diehtosiida is in the heart of Guovdageaidnu. The building was built in 2008 and hosts Sámi University College, the Sámi Parliament, Gáldu Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Sámi Ar-chives. On the ground floor of the building is the reception where you, as a new student, will get the answers to your very first questions. The edu-cational administration department are located in Diehtosiida, on the second floor of the building.

The educational administration department helps students with all student matters, e.g. Student fee, student card and exams. It is open for students Monday–Friday between 09 a.m.–4 p.m. E-mail: studieadm@samiskhs.no

Student registrationSámi University College will register new interna-tional students prior to their arrival in Guovda-geaidnu. SUC has two fees, which students pay when they arrive at our college. If you are a regular student, you should pay both semester fee and

tuition fee. If you are an exchange student taking advantage of our exchange program, then you will pay only the tuition fee, as you have already paid the semester fee at your home institution. You can obtain additional information about pay-ment from the student administration. For full time students the semester fee is approximately NOK 400 and the tuition fee is NOK 300 for one semester. The tuition fee for the beginners’ course in North Sámi is NOK 1200 for 15 ECTS credits. You should pay these fees as soon as possible; this will give you the right to take exams and to get a student card.

Student cardEvery student will receive a student card after paying the fee. The student card is also a key card, and gives you access to all the student rooms at Diehtosiida, which will allow you entrance after the building has closed. The student card also works as a borrowing card for the library located at Diehtosiida.

You can get a student card/ key card from recep-tion. The receptionist will need your passport information to complete the student card. You will also get a personal code for your student card, to be used to get access to the different rooms.

The library The library of Sámi University College holds books and learning material relevant to the courses at our university college. Here you will also find study rooms and group rooms. The library is on the first floor of Diehtosiida, and is open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.–3.30 p.m. Telephone: + 47 78 44 85 54, e-mail: girjerajus@samiskhs.no

Upon Arrival in Guovdageaidnu

14

The gymDiehtosiida has a gym available to students and staff, which is free of charge. The gym is in the basement of Diehtosiida. You may enter the gym any time, with your key card.

Student building and Students’ Union Students at Sámi University College have a stu-dent building, located close by Diehtosiida. The student building is a meeting place for students at SUC. The Students’ Union will have more information about the student building and other student activities, and you may contact them by e-mail: studeantastivra@samiskhs.no.

Technology and InternetThe IT department of Sámi University College will help you with all matters concerning com-puters and technological equipment. There is free Internet connection at SUC for students. In the student rooms on the ground floor you may also find computers and printers for use by students. The IT department is located on the ground floor of Diehtosiida and is open weekdays between 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

StudyingAt Sámi University College, there is close col-laboration between students and teachers. This gives the students a great chance to develop their academic skills. The teaching week usually lasts from Monday to Friday, and a usual working day is 7.5 hours. A course at SUC which generally takes one semester (five months), will gives 30 ECTS credits.

Did you know that:Guovdageaidnu is the perfect location for out-door activities? Fishing, canoeing, and swimming are some of your options. You can also go ski-ing or hiking in the mountains or on the floodlit tracks. If you want company, why not join the Tuvrrahasat – an outdoor activity group with a variety of trips around the area: www.tuvrrahasat.no

15

National Insurance Scheme The public social security system in Norway is called the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden). To be entitled to benefits, you must be a member of the Norwegian National Insur-ance Scheme. This applies to:• All benefits from NAV• Health service benefits (treatment by a doctor,

psychologist or expenditure on medicines of major importance in long-term use)

As a general rule, all persons resident in Norway are members of the Norwegian National Insur-ance Scheme. If you have legal employment in Norway, you will, as a rule, become a member of the National Insurance scheme from your first working day even if you are not deemed to be resident here. Membership is automatic.

Students living in Norway for longer than six months who have applied for a Norwegian iden-tity number become automatically members of the national insurance scheme. Students who do not belong to an EU country will need to ap-ply to join the national insurance scheme. To do this you enter the website of NAV: https://www.nav.no/en/Home/Work+and+stay+in+Norway/Foreign+students+in+Norway.

Find the form called “Application for insurance

during stay in Norway”. Fill it out and send it to your nearest NAV office or contact the NAV service centre.

X-ray Tuberculosis examination is mandatory for some groups of international students. This includes, among others, persons from countries where tu-berculosis is common who will be spending more than three months in Norway. The examination consists of a skin test, possibly a blood sample and a chest x-ray for persons over 15 years of age.

Students from the following regions and coun-tries are exempt from taking the test: Western Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The universities and university colleges can pro-vide information about how to contact the local public health clinic to get tested. www.studyinnorway.no/Study-in-Norway/Health-insurance/Mandatory-tuberculosis-test%20 Make an appointment for the tuberculosis test and the X-ray within two weeks of your arrival in Norway. Remember to bring your passport. The test is done at the Public Health Service in Guovdageaidnu. Contact the public nurse on: +47 78 48 72 55 / 78 48 72 56.

NAV Service CentreTelephone: +47 800 33 166, email: post@nav.no. The NAV office in Guovdageaidnu is in Bredbukt-nesvn. 6 and is open Monday–Friday between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Phone number: +47 78 48 71 00. Internet: www.nav.no

Health

Healt care centre / EmergencyOpen on weekdays between 8 a.m.–3.30 p.m. Phone number: +47 78 48 72 60 (between 8 a.m.–11 a.m., 1 p.m.–3 p.m.). After opening hours, call: +47 78 48 55 55.

16

DentistIf your teeth are aching, you can book an ap-pointment with the public dental office in Guovdageaidnu, located in Bredbuktnesveien 12. International students pay the same as Norwe-gians. Phone number: +47 78 96 58 90.

Health Care You will find the health centre in Guovdageaidnu in Sarritluodda 2. International students pay the same rates as Norwegians. Remember to book an appointment!

Tax cardIf you wish to work in Norway, you must have a tax card. You should apply for a tax card if you salary exceeds a certain level. If you are a student and are also working, you must pay tax on the income you receive from your work in Norway. If your income is under a certain level, you may apply for a “free card” (tax exemption card), which means that your employer will not deduct tax from your salary. If you do not give a tax card to your employer, he or she will deduct 50% tax from your salary. You may apply for a tax card or a tax exemption card from NAV. See the website of Skatteetaten: www.skatteetaten.no/en/International-pages.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN NORWAYFIRE 110POLICE 112AMBULANCE 113POLICE 911 (ONLY FROM CELLULAR PHONES)

Emergency

17

Student RatesSome shops, cafeterias, buses, bars, etc. offer student rates on their products and services. You will need to show your student card as confirma-tion. Remember to ask for student rates in the cafeteria in Diehtosiida!

BookshopFinnmark Kontorservice AS is the bookshop in Guovdageaidnu and it is located in the centre, in Álttáluodda 15. Here you should find the books you need for your studies, or you can ask them to order the books for you.

Open Monday–Friday between 9 a.m.–4.30 p.m., telephone: +47 992 18 670.

Sámi University College on the InternetYou can find information about Sámi University College on the website: www.samas.no and also on Facebook. On both sites you will find updated news about what is going on at Sámi University College.

Living costs in GuovdageaidnuYou will need about NOK 9.700 per month to cover your costs in Norway.

Approximate prices for some everyday items:

• One litre of milk NOK 15• A loaf of bread NOK 15• A cup of coffee NOK 25• A restaurant meal NOK 150• One litre of petrol NOK 15

Useful Links• The website of Sámi University College:

www.samas.no• The website of Guovdageaidnu District:

www.kautokeino.kommune.no/• Study in Norway is a website which provides

information for international students study-ing in Norway: www.studyinnorway.no/

• The International Students’ Union of Norway is an association for all international students studying in Norway: isu-norway.no/

• The Erasmus Student Network has an associ-ation which serves all international students, not only Erasmus students: www.esn.no/

• University of the Arctic: www.uarctic.org• The Barentsplus Programme:

www.barentsplus.hifm.no• The North2north programme:

www.uarctic.org/north2north• The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration:

www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of- Immigration/

• The official travel guide to Norway: www.visitnorway.com/en/

• For information about the festivals in Guovda-geaidnu: www.samieasterfestival.com

18

Buorre beaivi!My name is Karen Máret and I am in the teach-ing programme here at SUC. A week in my life in Guovdageaidnu usually starts by meeting up with friends after school. I will typically either go out for a coffee, to a friend’s house to hangout, or I will meet with fellow students at one of the local shops. School is a big part of my life, but I still have time to meet my friends and have fun!

During winter, when temperatures drop to minus 25˚C, we usually go driving snowmobiles. The tundra here is so beautiful! The people in Guovdageaidnu are extraordinarily skilled in sámi handcrafts and you regularly have an opportunity to learn these from locals. In SUC we have handcraft rooms that students can also use.

In autumn people are gathering the reindeer back to the winter areas and you have an opportunity to experience this! In weekends I usually relax or take part in the social happenings and events; such as concerts, a show at the sámi theatre, sports etc. It is a fun way to meet people!

I love living in the north, in Guovdageaidnu, be-cause the beauty of nature surrounds us. People in Guovdageaidnu are so welcoming and it is easy to get to know people.

Eallin lea somá! Life here is good!

Dearvvuođaiguin

Karen Máret

My life in Guovdageaidnu

19

Hánnoluohkká 459520 Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino

NorwayTel:+47 78 44 84 00

Fax: +47 78 44 84 02Internet: www.samas.no

E-mail: postmottak@samiskhs.noFacebook: www.facebook.com/samiallaskuvla