My limited information to this position is:
- It is a 50% position and that it is a new concept for SJH.
- The position should seek to arrange for internships at related farms/businesses
- Co-manage a Leonardo cooperation with a Dutch educational institution.
- It was emphasized that the position require extensive experience within applied agriculture.
'WORKLIFE CONTACT'
This position may serve as the unifying element of Transition Aurland, bridging SJH incl. the new student enterprises with the farms and businesses in the Aurland region.
Suggestions for the position:
I believe this position can be central in ensuring success for the most viable of the transition elements outlined on this web; the initiatives and enterprises need to be 'owned' by the involved students and local community, however a funded initial support person is necessary to secure the public awareness and subsequent accept and involvement.
I have built this web presentation on the knowledge about the transition movement, permaculture as organizational theory and applied agriculture approach, and significantly my 12 years experience of managing a Czech LA21 organization (PermaLot) and 17 hectares of organic agriculture. Apart from harvest and educational effect on 1000's of participants, an unexpected result of managing PermaLot is a number of University projects and published peer-reviewed papers all high-lighting the issue of ensuring rural sustainability.
It is my view that my experience with PermaLot, and significantly my education in both Human Ecology as well as Planning and Environmental Management, brings a solid approach for this contact with the working environment of the Aurland region. I also believe that this approach to contact will provide an inspiring bridge to SHJ and increase the interest of internships at the cooperating farms and businesses.
Significantly the overall approach animates the students to think 'out of the box', and learn new approaches to agriculture as well as marketing and business management.
It would be essential in ensuring a mutual satisfactory result that a good level of coaching by the SJH management is ensured, as well as a symbiotic relationship with both the resource center, Kompetansenavet Vest and the faculty staff of SJH.
