The counselling and information service in Oslo Adult Education is responsible for this website. Our objective is to assist immigrants and refugees in developing and using their qualifications as quickly as possible after settling in Oslo. We also hope it will serve as a virtual resource centre for the netowrk of people working with immigrants and immigrant questions, in our municipality as well outside.

Main areas of responsibility | The information centre | www.velkommenoslo.no |
The Introductory programme | The team | Contact | Staff

Main areas of responsibility:

• Collect and spread information on Norwegian language training, vocational training, recognition of foreign credentials, education and work in Norway.
• To be a central information and collaboration unit for all public and private qualification services for immigrants and refugees.
• Organise seminars and meetings for public and private qualification and councelling services.
• Operate and run the information centre in Oslo Adult Education Service Centre.
• Operate and develop the websites www.velkommenoslo.no and www.oslovo.no
• Provide group counselling to course participants in Oslo Adult Education.
  

The information centre
is situated in Oslo Adult Education Service Centre, in Karoline Kristiansens vei 8 in Fyrstikktorget, Helsfyr.

• The centre is open 5 days a week, including Monday and Thursday evenings.
• Our switchboard is open to all users and partners in Oslo five days a week.
• We give information and advice on Norwegian language courses, evaluation and recognition of foreign credentials, further education in Norway, job seeking and working life to Norwegian language class participants.
• We give information, either in the classroom or in the information centre, about the processes of recognition of foreign skills and credentials for all vocational and professional groups.
• We give information, either in the classroom or in the information centre, about the Norwegian labour market, job seeking and further education.
• Visitors to the centre have access to 18 computer terminals. New users are assisted if required.
• We also produce and distribute information leaflets and brochures.

The informations centre is open to all immigrants in Oslo.
The centre is open 1000 hrs - 1800 hrs on Mondays and Thursdays, 1000 hrs - 1500 hrs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Closed on public holidays and during school holidays.

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www.velkommenoslo.no
This website was developed to create easy access to information on Norwegian language training, recognition of foreign qualifications, education and work for immigrants, refugees and the network of people engaged in language training and qualification services.

Velkommenoslo.no was first developed by Kvapro (a project etsablished to coordinate and establish qualification opportunities for immigrants and refugees in Oslo's urban districts), and was launched in October 2001. Kvapro was one of the initiatives included in "Action plan against ethnic discrimination", initiated by the Department of Primary health Care and Social Affairs in Oslo City. The Kvapro project closed in December 2001. The Kvapro team consisted of Nili Deloya, Geir Dahle Hansen, Ellen Dehli and Birgit Stokke. Elisabeth Mølbach, http://www.molbach.no, was engaged to design our website. Technical consultant: Tor-Ivar Hals,  http://www.hals.no

In 2002 the project IRPRO (The Information and counselling project in Rosenhof Adult Education Centre) took over responsibility for the website. The English version of www.velkommenoslo.no was launched in February 2002. IRPRO has also carried out a preliminary analysis to develop a national website for immigrants and refugees throughout Norway, Velkommennorge.no, based on velkommenoslo.no. From January 2003, IRPRO ended as a project and was established as a permanent service, and is now part of Oslo Adult Education's Service centre.

The website information is presented in simple Norwegian, so that it is accessible also for those who are not yet fluent speakers/readers. In the information centre we offer assistance to those who need help with Internet access.

In the implementation phase of the Introductory programme, the Education Authority in Oslo has received financial support from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for a project that will coordinate and quality assurance concerning Norwegian language training in Oslo's urban districts. The Information and Counselling Service has coordinated and run this project.

Read more about the Introductoy programme in Oslo here >>>>

The team
The information and counselling service together share considerable competence from various fields:

• Many years of experience from Norwegian language training - organisation, administration, counselling and teaching
• Counselling on further education and professional choices for the target group
• Expertise on the Norwegian educational system, including adult education
• Special competence on processes of recognition of foreign secondary and higher education
• Experience from the employment services, job seeking assistance, and contact with employers and the labour market in general
• Organisation of Norwegian language training and qualification services in Oslo's urban districts
• Collaboration with other providers of language training to adult immigrants and refugees
• Computer competence

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Contact us at:

Informasjons- og rådgivingstjenesten
v/Oslo Voksenopplæring Servicesenteret
Postboks 6033 Etterstad, 0601 Oslo

Visiting address: Karoline Kristiansens vei 8 (map)
E-mail: Karriere@utdanningsetaten.oslo.kommune.no
Telephone: 23 47 00 00
Fax: 23 47 00 99

Last modified 13/09/2009