Arctic Yearbook 2014
41
cultural groups had been able to solve on their own based on their different frames of reference and
thus various formal and informal skills and knowledge.
However, this approach has not always been successful. Group work is difficult, and intercultural
group work is a challenge - even if all students attend. Sometimes the intercultural differences
created a negative synergy because some of the Danish students were very brash and dominant in
their work, and some of the Greenlandic students mentally withdrew from the partnership, choosing
to focus on small details so that their knowledge and skills never came into play. Other times, some
Greenlandic students’ involvement and contributions were so limited that it created conflicts and
they retired mentally, and the Danish students in turn felt that solving the whole task depended on
them.
Although the program overall is a success, there is clearly room for improvement. It is a delicate
matter to take Greenlandic young people with weak Danish language and inadequate study strategies
hinged on cultural differences, and force them to adapt to European university studies. At times we
need to ask ourselves whether we in fact violate these young people by ‘forcing’ them through such
training and teaching. On the other hand, if more young Greenlanders do not break the cycle of
disadvantage and complete higher education, Greenland is stuck in a disproportionate dependence
on outside labor and dominance of a Danish born elite, while large parts of the population are
excluded from both labor and influence. Thus social inequality is increased and society’s social
cohesion is challenged.
Notes
1. From 2009, Greenland transitioned to Self Rule with expanded domestic political powers
but still as part of the Danish Kingdom and subject to Danish foreign and defense policy, as
well as the Danish legal system and police.
2. Interview with Greenlandic students at the Arctic Engineering education in Sisimiut,
Greenland.
3. Based on data from Statistics Greenland.
4. Including a. o. social help, social pension, housing support.
References
Bjerregaard, P. (2004): Folkesundhed i Grønland, Inussuk Arktisk Forskningsjournal 1: 2004.
Bjerregaard, P., Dahl-Petersen, I.K. (2008). Befolkningsundersøgelsen i Grønland 2005-2007,
Levevilkår, livsstil og helbred, Statens Institut for Folkesundhed.
Bjerregaard, P., Aidt, E. C. (2010): Levevilkår, livsstil og helbred, Befolkningsundersøgelsen i
Grønland 2005-2009, Statens Institut for Folkesundhed.
Hendriksen & Christensen