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Imagine the international and cultural exchange at a typical UN gathering. Now imagine a microcosm of that gathering in a benevolent school setting. Welcome to Lagerhuset in chilly Gothenburg, Sweden. One room is filled with eager students representing more than a dozen countries throughout the world. Globalverkstan, Swedish for “The Global Workshop,” is an educational program with a focus on international project management in civil society. The school, located in Göteborg, Sweden, is the daughter project of a local Swedish not-for-profit company called Nätverkstan, which is owned by approximately 40 culture magazines.
As a school, Globalverkstan fosters diversity, creativity, and a hands-on project management strategy through a three-term course of study. The school is tuition-free and open to international students throughout the world regardless of age, social class, nationality, or any other discerning factor. The students who attend Globalverkstan are united by a common factor: each is linked to civil society, generally defined as the non-government, non-public, and non-business sector of society. The students work in fields such as human rights and democracy to create a more just and democratic world.
This practical project management education program has influenced more than 65 graduating students who originate from 30 countries throughout the world. “It has been an incredible journey to start up this education. To do something you believe in with like-minded persons and really be able to do it has been a kind of pioneering experience. We're maybe 5-10 years ahead of our time in our thinking of global citizenship, international cooperation and how to survive in the project based world order,” said Coordinator Olav Unsgaard.
Established in January 2004, the program will have graduated three classes (about 75 students) by June of 2007. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has been supportive and is positive about the results of the program. “During these three pilot years, the school has been funded by the Agency for Advanced Vocational Education. Now the school seeks a new partner and donor,” said Project Manager Karin Dalborg about the school’s future. “Many are very positive but up until today we have no proposals. We think it's a good project and we would like to continue and develop it even further. We are in the middle of a process where we document, evaluate and formulate the next step.”
Students from all corners of the globe study project management at Globalverkstan in order to develop and sharpen their project leading skills. Each student spends the second term of the program in an organization, usually abroad, working on an individual Learning at Work (LAW) project. Projects range from building youth groups in Mexico to increasing water availability to communities in Cameroon. Upon graduation, many return to their native lands or remain in Sweden in order to build social movements through advocacy and project leading or participation in projects put forth by International /Non-Governmental Organization (I/NGO)s, Civil Society Organization (CSO)s and other non-profit or international organizations.
The objective of the educational program is to provide participants with the tools required to initiate and carry out projects in the NGO-sector. In addition, it is hoped that those who complete the program will, independently or together, start new projects and contribute to the revitalization of organizations throughout the world. Examples of independent projects that are direct products of the school network’s graduates include (but are not limited to) Time Bank Association Sweden and Club Global, both Swedish non-profit organizations.
Each student receives a Macintosh iBook upon commencement of the course, and the school has LAN access in each classroom for Internet access and note taking. Students use the laptops during the time they are abroad during the LAW period, as well. A typical class is comprised of about 25 students, with around 80% of the group graduating at the conclusion of the third term.
After partaking in a three-term program that includes a full-time practical internship working with an organization locally or abroad, a student should have the practical knowledge necessary in order to function as a project leader. Since many students have prior experience upon enrollment, their background is an integral part of lecture, discussion, activism, and regular class activity.
Those who complete Globalverkstan formulate and exercise the skills necessary to initiate and organize projects according to each individual’s background. Students’ areas of focus include fair trade, democracy, peaceful conflict resolution, youth, poverty, tolerance, agriculture, trafficking, art, music, culture, and more. The remainder of the class, as an international audience, serves as a sounding board for each student’s ideas and contributions. Students therefore learn a great deal of cultural tolerance and sensitivity while participating in the program. It is, after all, the inspiration and building of ideas that propels the students to take action.
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