Talent Development the Scandinavian Way

Who do you think should take this course?

Do you love sport? Are you critical of sport? Have you played sport all your life, or even work in sport? Have you never set foot on the court? Have you heard about ‘the Scandinavian way’ and wonder what that actually entails? This entry-level course suits you! The course is suitable for those who want to gain knowledge of foundational concepts in talent development and to build an understanding of how talent development is contextually shaped. 

What characterizes this course?

The course combines a distance delivery mode with synchronous online meetings in which students discuss the course content. A very flexible scheduling of online meetings facilitates combining the course with work or other studies. The course attracts students from all over the world, creating a group dynamic that allows students to learn about Scandinavian sport, but also about other countries’ talent development schemes and sport systems. Most course participants are not native English speakers, and the teachers therefore take great care in creating a safe environment where students feel encouraged to share their perspectives. 

What knowledge do students gain that is relevant to their future careers or further studies?

Depending on your background and reason for taking the course, it will provide you with a deeper understanding of the context in which you work or play sport, entry-point to further sport studies, or simply an overall understanding of Scandinavian society through the lens of talent development. Notably, students from Scandinavia gain a new perspective on their ‘home turf’ via the course content and the comparisons with other country contexts that the course enables. Reversely, students from outside of Scandinavia contrast their own country’s sporting system with the key features of Scandinavian sport, enabling a deepened understanding of both contexts.