Nature in Social Education

About the Nature in Social Education exchange programme

• Structure and content

  Semester start - semester end:

  • (Mid) August - (mid) December

  Application deadline: 

  • Autumn: 1 May

  Language:

  The programme is taught in English.

  About the programme:

  Nature in Social Education focuses on how human body, nature, nature experiences, outdoor surroundings and activities can support the personal development and learning processes of children and others, and how this can promote interest in nature, environmental issues and sustainability. 

  During the programme, you will develop capabilities in reflecting on social pedagogy and education theories and carrying out social pedagogy and education work along with implementing nature and outdoor activities in your professional work. In addition, you will will do practical activities in nature combined with theories and reflections on nature.

  The programme is concerned with four different areas:

  • Theories and methodology of social pedagogy and social education in Denmark
  • Theories, research and methodology by practicing and reflecting on outdoor activities and being in nature
  • Reflections on the relationship between humans in nature and nature in humans
  • Placement internship and observation in social education institutions 

  All in all 30 ECTS

  Theory and practice

  The programme offers the opportunity for you to gain theoretical and practical knowledge about 

  • What is being human and being (in) nature
  • How to participate and frame outdoor environments and activities in social education work
  • How we can create and live out values of sustainability in active citizenship, co-creation and democratic education
  • What is the societal and professional contexts for social educational work in Denmark.

  The programme includes an internship. Here you get the opportunity to experience the daily life and pedagogical work as a pedagogue in social educational institutions such as kindergartens, schools and after-school centers.

  Lastly, you will have the opportunity to apply and develop new skills involving Nature in Social Education in a project in collaboration with local partner institutions in Denmark such as after-school centers, daycare centers or cultural institutions focusing on nature and outdoor.

  Read about Course modules

  Read about the three modules for the programme

  Read more about the aims and learning outcome

  Evaluation

  The evaluation of the semester is graded by 'Approved' or 'Not approved', based on the student's active participation and two-three compulsory assignments for each module. 

• Enrolment

  The minimum requirement to apply for the course, is to have passed the first two semesters at bachelor’s level at your relevant university or another institute of higher education.

  With regards to language proficiency, it is required to have an English level, spoken and written, equivalent to B2, according to the Common European Framework.

  A maximum of 30 students will be admitted per semester.

  Who can apply?

  Anyone is welcome to apply, but the programme is designed for students of social work, teacher education and/or students within the fields of nature, health and outdoor activities. In addition, some applicants are people who are interested in finding new opportunities and ways of working with the outdoor environment to improve learning and living conditions.

• How to apply

  Your home institution must have an inter-institutional agreement with  the department of Social Education at VIA University College in order for you to be able to apply for this exchange programme at VIA.  

  If an agreement exists, you will be able to fill in the application form. Please be aware that VIA must receive a nomination from your home institution as well.

  You are going to upload a motivational letter in the application. Please elaborate why you choose the Nature in Social Education exchange programme, what educational benefits you wish to gain from joining this particular programme and how this is connected to your home education - and maybe your dreams in your future profession.

  Learn more about how to apply here

• Fees and tuition

  Exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

  Per definition, exchange stays are an exchange of one or more students between partner universities and therefore, exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

  If you do not know, if your institution is a partner of VIA, please contact the international office at your home institution. If your institution is not a partner of VIA and you would like us to discuss the possibility of establishing an exchange agreement with your home institution, please contact us at partnerships@via.dk.

• Contact

  Contact our Incoming team at incoming@via.dk if you have questions about the exchange programme or how to apply.

  Campus address 

  VIA University College
  Ceresbyen 24
  DK- 8000 Aarhus C 

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