Visits to organisations, schools and events are an important part of life at RCN. They give our students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, experience Nordic cultures and gain insight into the communities and democratic traditions around them. They also allow students to represent the college and bring international youth perspectives into conversations across Norway and the Nordic region. This month was no exception, with visits to the Norwegian Red Cross National Summit, Tromsø and Bergen.
Students with Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Større at the Red Cross Summit
Students represented RCN at the Norwegian Red Cross National Summit, held every three years. As observers, they followed debates, speeches and voting, gaining insight into how the organisation makes decisions. At their stand, they introduced delegates to UWC and RCN, meeting people with family connections to the colleges and even a UWC Pearson alumnus. The conversations were so enthusiastic that students ran out of stickers and flyers.
For Jonas Kwiet, a second-year student from Germany, the experience brought a new perspective:
“It was the first time I participated in an event this large and it was like watching democracy come alive, which was amazing to see. I really felt a sense of unity and belonging to something bigger.”
Students in Tromsø
Meanwhile, three students travelled to Tromsø to represent RCN at a European Youth Parliament session. Working with other young people, they exchanged ideas, developed resolutions and debated issues concerning the European Arctic.
Discussions explored the protection of Indigenous land and the importance of ensuring that Indigenous peoples of the North participate equally in decisions about transport, education, artificial intelligence and other issues shaping their communities.
In Bergen, our students performed songs, Tibetan opera and dance at a Vestland County Council meeting. They also visited schools to introduce RCN and share their experiences of living and learning alongside young people from around the world.
The visit highlighted our connection with Vestland fylkeskommune. Through our partnership, the UWC Vestland Scholarships offer young people living in the county the opportunity to join RCN’s international community close to home. It was a chance to share a glimpse of everyday life at the college, from studying together to building friendships across languages and backgrounds.
Tibetian dance performace at the Vestland Council meeting in Bergen
