COUNSELING IN DEVELOPMENT C OUNSELING AT ILISIMATUSARFIK IS DEVELOPING AT A RAPID PACE - AND THE STUDENTS PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE in the proces. Counseling is essentially about supporting people in making important decisions about education, profession and career. It can be individual counseling or in collaboration with others. In many places, counseling is primarily seen as a function which helps students with experiencing problems: those who miss too many classes, who might end up leaving their program, or who struggle with personal issues. Of course, all of the above are important elements in the function of counseling - but it is far from the whole story. Counseling is also about the many students who are doing well, but who might need a professional discussion about their future. Furthermore, there are those who have applied for a program, without discussing it with those around them. Here, there is a massive unutilized potential in Greenland, which can reduce the number of dropouts - but it requires collaboration and united effort. At Ilisimatusarfik, we have chosen to introduce a counselor function that both accommodate the needs we experience - and who follow the legislation regarding counseling in Greenland. Additionally, we introduced the function to Greenlandic conditions. Hopefully our effort can inspire other counseling enthusiasts around the country. We introduced this function based on a substantial preliminary examination where our students had the option to contribute with their experiences and perspectives. Here, we examined topics such as: • • The transition from e.g., high school to Ilisimatusarfik. Their knowlegde about the programs before and after enrollment. • How they experience the structure and planning of their education. • Their motivation, workload and well-being. • What type of support they need - and what challenges they face. It is a big project that requires collaboration across Ilisimatusarfik - but we experience great support and interest from both students and staff. We currently offer several types of counseling, including: student counseling (psychological counseling), mentoring (professional sparring) and coaching (e.g., for students with stress). 24 Shaping the Arctic
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