Diversity management in multicultural learning processes among adult immigrants in Norway

Volume 7, Issue 3, June 2022     |     PP. 72-89      |     PDF (204 K)    |     Pub. Date: June 4, 2022
DOI: 10.54647/education88292    67 Downloads     2282 Views  

Author(s)

Christin Tønseth, Department of Education and Lifelong learning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim Norway

Abstract
Learning plays an important role in the integration of newly arrived immigrants into the Norwegian society. One challenge in multicultural learning environments is how to discover and make use of diversity in multicultural groups. This is a theoretical article that present some challenges in multicultural learning processes identified in earlier research. Through a theoretical discussion, this paper discusses whether diversity management can have something to add into established adult learning perspectives when it comes to facilitating learning processes that value diversity. Some of the elements in the diversity management perspective seem to have something to add adult learning principles in terms of facilitating communication, enabling co-determination, valuing the learning potential that lies in diversity and create spaces for learning.

Keywords
Diversity management, Multicultural learning environments, Adult learning theories, integration

Cite this paper
Christin Tønseth, Diversity management in multicultural learning processes among adult immigrants in Norway , SCIREA Journal of Education. Volume 7, Issue 3, June 2022 | PP. 72-89. 10.54647/education88292

References

[ 1 ] Abramovic, G. (2016). Effective Diversity Management on the Line – Who and How? On the role of line managers in organisations with diverse workforce. Doctoral thesis, Handelshøyskolen BI.
[ 2 ] Berg, B. (2018). Samhandling og relasjonsbygging. En forutsetning for inkludering og integrering. [Interaction and relationship building]. Paper presentation. Yrkesfagkonferansen. Trondheim 6.februar 2018.
[ 3 ] Berg, B. & Håpnes, T. (2001). Mellom likhet og forskjellighet. Mangfoldsstrategier i arbeidslivet. [Between equality and difference. Diversity strategies in working life]. Trondheim: SINTEF.
[ 4 ] Berg, B. & Lauritsen, K. (2000). I all verden! Rekruttering av innvandrere i norsk arbeidsliv. [What the world! Recruitment of immigrants in Norwegian working life]. Oslo: Utlendingsdirektoratet/Trondheim: SINTEF.
[ 5 ] Berry, J.W. (1992). Acculturation and adaptation in a new society. International Migration, 3, 69–85.
[ 6 ] Båtnes, P.I. (2012). Livsløp og læring. [Life cycle and learning]. In: P.I Båtnes & S. Egden (Eds.), Flerkulturell forståelse i praksis, [Multicultural understanding in practice]. Chapter 4. (pp. 92-127). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
[ 7 ] Cox, T. (1994). Cultural Diversity in Organizations. Theory, Research and Practice. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
[ 8 ] Dahl, Ø. (2001). Møtet mellom mennesker, interkulturell kommunikasjon. [The meeting between people, intercultural communication]. Oslo: Gyldendal akademiske.
[ 9 ] Danbolt, A.M.V., Engen, T.O., Hagen, A., Kulbrandstad, L.A., Sand, S., S, H., Straume, I. & Streitlien, Å. (2010). Opplæringstilbudet til minoritetsspråklige innen barnehage og grunnopplæring. [Education for minority language teachers in kindergarten and basic education]. Notodden: Telemarksforskning, Report 01/2010.
[ 10 ] DiTomaso, N. & Hooijberg, R. (1996). Diversity and the demands of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 7(2), 163-187, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1048-9843(96)90039-9
[ 11 ] Dobbin, F. (2009). Inventing Equal Opportunity. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400830893
[ 12 ] Drange, I. (2014). Mangfoldsledelse. En kunnskapsoversikt. [Diversity management. An overview]. Rapport nr. 3/2014. Oslo: Arbeidsforskningsinstituttets rapportserie, Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus.
[ 13 ] Dysthe, O. (2007). Læring og læringsformer i Kunnskapsløftet. [Learning and forms of learning in the Knowledge promotion reform]. In: H. Hølleland (Ed.), På vei mot kunnskapsløftet. [On the way to the Norwegian knowledge promotion reform]. Oslo: Cappelens Akademiske Forlag.
[ 14 ] Engen, T.O. (2010). Tilpasset opplæring: utkast til en faglig forståelse. [Adapted learning: draft of an academic understanding]. In: Grethe Dalhaug Berg & Kari Nes (Eds.), Tilpasset opplæring. Støtte til læring. Vallset: Opplandske bokforlag.
[ 15 ] Henriksen, K. (2008). Innvandreres levekår: Nå vet vi mer om innvandrere i Norge. [Immigrants' living conditions: We now know more about immigrants in Norway]. In: Samfunnsspeilet 1/2008, Statistisk sentralbyrå. https://www.ssb.no/sosiale-forhold-og-kriminalitet/artikler-og-publikasjoner/naa-vet-vi-mer-om-innvandrerne Healy, G. (2015). The Politics of Equality and Diversity: History, Society, and Biography. In: E. Henttonen & A. Mills, The Oxford handbook of diversity in organizations (pp. 15-38). United Kingdom: Oxford university press.
[ 16 ] Hirsch, K. (2009). Språklærer som formidler av kunnskap om kultur og samfunn dilemmaer og utfordringer i et flerkulturelt læringsmiljø. Konferanseinnlegg. [Language teacher who communicates knowledge of culture and society dilemmas and challenges in a multicultural learning environment]. Conference paper. Trondheim: Senter for voksenopplæring.
[ 17 ] Holvino, E. & Kamp, A. (2009). Diversity management: Are we moving in the right direction? Reflections from both sides of the North Atlantic. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 25 (4), 395-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2009.09.005
[ 18 ] Hundeide, K. (2003). Becoming a committed insider. Culture and Psychology, 9(2), 107-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067x0392001
[ 19 ] Illeris, K. (2003). Voksenuddannelse og voksenlæring. [Adult education and adult learning]. Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitetsforlag.
[ 20 ] Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet (IMDI) (2020). Introduksjonsprogrammet [The Introduction program], https://www.imdi.no/introduksjonsprogram/
[ 21 ] Jack, G. (2015). Advancing Postcolonial Approaches in Critical Diversity Studies. In: E. Henttonen & A. Mills. The Oxford handbook of diversity in organizations (pp. 153-174).United Kingdom: Oxford university press.
[ 22 ] Knights, D. & Omanovic, V. (2015). Rethinking diversity in organizations and society. I: E. Henttonen & A. Mills. The Oxford handbook of diversity in organizations (pp. 83-108). United Kingdom: Oxford university press.
[ 23 ] Knowles, M.S. (1990). The adult learner: a neglected species. Houston: Gulf Pub. Co.
[ 24 ] MIPEX. (2013). Countries, http://www.mipex.eu/countries
[ 25 ] Monsen, M. (ed.)(2016). Tilpasset norskopplæring for voksne innvandrere i Norge. [Adapted language larning for adult immigrants in Norway]. Oplandske Bokforlag.
[ 26 ] Nehls, E. (2005). Vad är the business of business? [What is the business of business?]. In: L. Martinsson, R. Norrbacka landsberg, E. Nehls, I. Molina & S. Lindström (Eds). Olikhetens paradigm. Intersektionella perspektiv på (jäm)likhetsskapande. [The paradigm of inequality. Intersectional perspective on creation of equity. Lund: Studentlitteratur.
[ 27 ] Norberg, P. F. & Lyngsnes, K. (2008). Dette er en ny verden for meg. Didaktisk arbeid med voksne innvandrere.[This is a new world to me. Didactic work with adult immigrants.] Oslo: Tapir Akademisk Forlag.
[ 28 ] NOU 2011:14. Bedre integrering. Mål, strategier, tiltak. [Better integration. Goals, strategies, measures]. Oslo: Barne- likestillings og inkluderingsdepartementet.
[ 29 ] Powell, G., Jayasinginghe, L. & Taksa, L. (2015). Intersectionality, social identity theory, and explorations of hybridity. A Critical Review of Diverse Approaches to Diversity. In: E. Henttonen & A. Mills. The Oxford handbook of diversity in organizations (pp. 518-535). United Kingdom: Oxford university press.
[ 30 ] Rismark, M., Norberg, P.F., Stenøien, J., & Sitter, S. (2003). Kulturkollisjoner bak rattet. [Cultural collisions behind the wheel]. Trondheim: VOX Forskningsavdeling.
[ 31 ] Sandal, G. M., Bye, H.H., Fyhn, T. & Markova, V. (2013). ‘Mangfoldsledelse’ og innvandreres tilknytning til arbeidsplassen. [‘Diversity management’ and immigrants' connection to the workplace]. Rapport. Society and workplace diversity group Bergen: Institutt for samfunnspsykologi Universitetet i Bergen.
[ 32 ] Skrevsrud, T.A. (2012). Å være lærer i interkulturell kontekst. Om dialogens betydning for lærerkompetansen. Avhandling for graden philosophiae doctor. [Being a teacher in an intercultural context. About the importance of dialogue for teacher competence]. Dr.Thesis. Trondheim: Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. NTNU. Thomas, R. R. Jr. (1990). From affirmative actions to affirming diversity. Harvard Business Review, 68(2), 107-117. http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=37d24b66-0d8e-4af3-9206-c72060072ff6%40sessionmgr4006&vid=4&hid=4212
[ 33 ] Velten, J., Tengblad, S., Ackerman, C. & Hällstèn, F. (2008). Medarbeiderskap. Fra ord til handling. [Employeeship. From words to action]. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
[ 34 ] Vygotsky, L. (2001). Tenkning og tale. [Thinking and speach]. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
[ 35 ] Wahlgren, B. (1993). Voksnes forutsetninger for læring. [Adult conditions for learning]. In: Folkeopplysning –Voksenpedagogikk - Kompetanse: Tre sider av samme sak? NVI-conference 14.-15. november 1992.
[ 36 ] Wiktorin, K. (2017). Inclusion of refugees through non-formal education 2017. Nordic best practice. Nordisk ministerråd. TemaNord 2017:552, https://doi.org/10.6027/tn2017-552
[ 37 ] Wrench, J. (2007). Diversity management and discrimination: immigrants and ethnic minorities in the EU. Hampshire: Ashgate, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315577722 2 references deleted for anonymity