The Nansen Academy – Norwegian Humanistic Academy () is a

folk high school Folk high schools (also ''adult education center'') are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal. They are most commonly found in Nordic countries and i ...

Lillehammer Lillehammer () is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. Some of the more notable villages in the munici ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

History

Nansen Academy was founded as a

humanist Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...

and anti-

totalitarian Totalitarianism is a political system and a form of government that prohibits opposition from political parties, disregards and outlaws the political claims of individual and group opposition to the state, and completely controls the public sph ...

institution. The school was named after polar explorer, scientist, author and humanist

Fridtjof Nansen Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 1861 – 13 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and co-founded the ...

(1861-1930). His work embodied essential elements of

humanism Humanism is a philosophy, philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and Agency (philosophy), agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The me ...

: active love of one's neighbour and freedom of thought. The school was established in 1938 by Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup Jr. (1894–1980) Bishop of the

Diocese of Hamar The Diocese of Hamar () is a diocese within the Church of Norway. The Diocese of Hamar includes all of the churches in Innlandet county plus the churches in Lunner Municipality in Akershus county. Administratively, the diocese is divided into 1 ...

together with future

Norwegian Resistance Movement The Norwegian resistance (Norwegian language, Norwegian: ''Motstandsbevegelsen'') to the German occupation of Norway, occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms: *As ...

members Anders Platou Wyller (1903-1940) and

Henriette Bie Lorentzen Henriette Bie Lorentzen (18 July 1911 – 23 August 2001), born Anna Henriette Wegner Haagaas, was a Norwegian journalist, humanist, peace activist, feminist, co-founder of the Nansen Academy, resistance member and concentration camp survivor du ...

(1911–2001). Its first school year started in 1939. It was closed and dissolved during the

occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940, and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until th ...

, after only one year of existence. It resurfaced after the liberation of Norway at the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and re-opened in 1946. The Nansen Academy offers a one-year study founded in the

Folk high school Folk high schools (also ''adult education center'') are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal. They are most commonly found in Nordic countries and i ...

tradition common to Scandinavian nations. The interdisciplinary programme is mainly based on social and humanistic sciences. Historical, holistic and ethical perspectives are encouraged. The main aim is to inspire independent thinking and reflection, as well as creativity, as a basis for active participation in society. All students attend classes in philosophy, international security politics and cultural history (art, literature, music) as well as their chosen programme. The students stay in dormitories on campus. The Nansen Academy initiated the

Norwegian Festival of Literature The Norwegian Festival of Literature (in Norwegian Sigrid Undset-dagene) is the biggest non commercial literary festival in the Nordic countries taking place in May/June in Lillehammer every year since 1995. The festival includes all the Nordic cou ...

(''Norsk Litteraturfestival'') and the first national dialogues between religions in Norway. It organizes the yearly Olympic academies in cooperation with the

Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of sports The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports ( NIF), commonly known as the Norwegian Sports Confederation () is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, ...

. The Nansen Academy also organises a center working on dialogue in war zones and for peace education
Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue
The academy received the

Fritt Ord Award Fritt Ord Award consists of two prizes awarded by the Fritt Ord (organization), Fritt Ord Foundation (''Stiftelsen Fritt Ord''). Two prizes are awarded in support of freedom of speech and freedom of expression; the Fritt Ord Award () and the Frit ...

(''Fritt Ords pris'') in 1987 and received Honourable Mention for the “

UNESCO Prize for Peace Education The UNESCO Prize for Peace Education was awarded annually beginning 1981. The main goal of UNESCO education prize was to encourage excellent effort in the drive to reach a better quality education. The prize endowed up to US$60,000 and a statuett ...

” in 1998.

References

Other sources

*Forfang, Halvard Grude (1977) ''Nansenskolen 1936-1940 : to venners drøm og dåd'' (Oslo : Gyldendal) Folk high schools in Norway Buildings and structures in Lillehammer Education in Innlandet Educational institutions established in 1938 1938 establishments in Norway {{Norway-school-stub