The School of Sport Sciences is one of ten departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
We are a total of about 30 employees in Alta, Tromsø and Svalbard. We have approximately 250 students enrolled in our bachelor's and master's degree programmes. Our students develop skills that are in demand in training, physical activity, guiding and guidance. The main objective of research at the department is to contribute with knowledge to understand and improve practice in our fields.
Research and education at UiT focus on sustainability and environmental management. The UN's sustainability goals are central to the investment and the university has adopted an action plan with measures that will contribute to achieving UiT's goal of sustainable and environmentally friendly operation of the university. Read more about UiT's investment areas within sustainability.
At the School of Sport Sciences, we work purposefully to support UiT's goals for sustainability and environmental management. The department is concerned with measures that can contribute to preserving the environment and has a travel policy that encourages employees to reflect on the necessity of the trip before it is carried out. Meetings are largely conducted on teams/zoom, as it is both environmentally friendly and time-saving. Our employees are encouraged to walk, bike or use public transportation to work. Sustainability is also an important part of educational content and research projects.
UiT's strategy on sustainability states that the various departments must participate in the social debate and contribute with research that can find sustainable solutions for the future.
Ecological and socio-cultural sustainability in the bachelor's study Arctic outdoor life and nature guiding.
Students kayaking in Russeluft Photo: Idrettshøgskolen
Our courses in outdoor life and arctic nature guide focus on both ecological and socio-cultural sustainability. This means, among other things, that the students will become tour guides and nature guides who have a basic understanding of trackless traffic, disturbance of wildlife and negative consequences on nature and the environment that outdoor life and tourism can cause. Social and cultural sustainability means taking into account other user groups in nature and having knowledge of local culture and social conditions. Themes such as environmental struggles, Sami and Kven nature use, and eco-philosophy are central. It is therefore a goal that the students should acquire skills in communicating nature and culture to participants and guests on tour, in a way that creates greater awareness of sustainability and can promote environmentally friendly attitudes.
Projects and research
Sustainability officer at IH campus Alta
In what way can nature guides during various activities convey sustainability and take into account nature and culture on site? Photo: IdrettshøgskolenFrida Marie Omma Jørgensen is the Sustainability officer Photo: Idrettshøgskolen
In 2021, we have started a project with a focus on making visible and communicating sustainability at the School of Sport Sciences. Frida Marie Omma Jørgensen is responsible for sustainability and has so far focused on outdoor life and sustainability. Among other things, we want to have activities aimed at the public outside the university at open events such as tours, competitions, lectures, workshops and other activities. For example, we have arranged a free repair offer in the square in Alta with a professional tailor and bicycle repairer. One of the biggest climate emissions in Norway is the consumption of sports and outdoor equipment. By maintaining bicycles and repairing clothing, outdoor life and sports activities can become more environmentally friendly. We also want to promote the use of bicycles as a means of transport in everyday life that is environmentally friendly and health-promoting. Frida used the opportunity to convey how to run a sustainable outdoor life and gentle travel in nature both for nature, animals and other people you meet on a trip with quizzes, prizes and available information about guidelines such as trail cycling rules and tour norms. In this way, we worked with three of the UN's sustainability goals: "Life on land", "Good health and quality of life" and "Stopping climate change".
Doctoral study 'Nature guiding and sustainable tourism'
Scholarship recipient: Frida Marie Omma
There is a particular focus on ecological and socio-cultural sustainability and how this comes across in the actual guiding during the activity or tour. Important questions include; what considerations does the nature guide take into account for gentle travel in nature, and in what way do they present local culture and identity? It is interesting whether the background and expertise of the guide has an impact on the interpretation of nature and culture to guests, in addition to his philosophical views on the nature in which the activity takes place. Everyone has their own way of conducting outdoor life or nature use, and with this comes a system of knowledge and experiences. Ways of being in nature are therefore culturally conditioned, and when tourism companies use a natural area it should be done in interaction with other users and interest groups. The study area for the project is in Nord-Troms and the methods to be used are participant observation and in-depth interviews with nature guides. In addition, other key people who are experts in their field must assist in advising on various forms of sustainability. An important part of the research is collaboration with participants and providing concrete proposals for more sustainable nature guiding.
In what way can nature guides during various activities convey sustainability and take into account nature and culture on site? Photo: Idrettshøgskolen
