course-details-portlet

BARN2004

Children's Rights in a Nordic Perspective

Credits 7.5
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

This course offers a critical examination of children's rights in the Nordic region, focusing on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. All Nordic countries have ratified the Convention and to various extent integrated it in their national laws. Although the Nordic region has traditionally been reckoned pioneers in promoting and ensuring children’s rights, the countries also encounter a range of challenges. The course presents a historical overview of the development of children's rights and discusses the principles of the current Convention, such as the principle of the 'best interest of the child' and children's rights to provision, protection, and participation. The course addresses how different actors in the Nordic region interpret, implement, and apply the Convention and sheds light on some of the current problems in policies and practices relating to children. The course has a particular focus on children and youth in vulnerable situations, such as in the child welfare system, adoption system, migration system, juvenile justice system, next-of-kin to family members with mental, physical, or addiction problems, etc. In addition, the course highlights the practice of rights in everyday arenas of children and youth, such as in kindergarten and schools, social media and gaming, leisure activities, research, and political spheres. In this regard, the course pays particular attention to how to involve children and youth in decision-making and ensure their participatory rights.

Learning outcome

The main objectives of the course are to provide students with knowledge of:

  • The historical background of children's rights.
  • The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); articles, principles, and practices.
  • Contemporary issues related to children’s rights in the Nordic region (e.g., education, child welfare system, migration, etc.)
  • Participatory practices involving children and youth in decision-making processes in different arenas.

Learning methods and activities

Total lecture hours: approximately 20 hours.

Course materials

Information will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
BARN2001 4 sp Autumn 2024
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Childhood Studies
  • Education
  • Social Sciences

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Education and Lifelong Learning

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Date 2025-11-21 Time 09:00 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL110 turkis sone
15 candidates

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.