EDUCATION
Course in Conflict De-Escalative Social Work
The course is tailored for those working with refugees and asylum seekers.
The course has been continuously developed over the past three years in collaboration with the School of Leadership and Theology (HLT).
The course is made out of three study blocks in Oslo and gives 20 Norwegian study points.
Next course starts in October 2025
Refugee and asylum workers face considerable demands, requiring relational competence and the ability to facilitate others through the challenges of migration. We have partnered with the Norwegian University of Management and Theology to develop an education that provides insights and tools on multiple levels.
The course is held in the facilities of the King Institute, in the center of Oslo.
Themes covered in the course:
• Conflict Understanding
• Contextual Awareness
• Underlying Causes of Conflict
• Conflict Prevention
• Conflict Psychology
• Mediation Tools
• Dialogue Understanding and Dialogue Work
• Conflict De-Escalative Social and Therapeutic Work
• Tolerance and Diversity Studies
• Ethical Approaches
• Migration
• Reception Center Management
• Human Trafficking Issues
| First Meeting | Second Meeting | Third Meeting |
| 14th to 17th of October 2025 | 2nd to 5th of December 2025 | 20th to 23rd of January 2026 |
Read more about the course here
The program is designed to provide you with in-depth knowledge and practical skills that are essential for preventing and managing conflicts in asylum centers and housing facilities in an effective, respectful, and empathetic manner. We are confident that your participation will help strengthen our shared efforts to create safe and inclusive environments for those seeking protection and support.
We are joined by knowledgeable and renowned lecturers, including Henrik Syse, Thomas Dorg, Jai Ganapathy, Per Erik Skogestad, and Karoline Løvoll Strømme. The course provides 20 ECTS credits, provided that participants complete a written exam at the end of the program.
Course details
• The course is held at the King Institute’s facilities, Pilestredet 27, 0164 Oslo – see map here.
• The course fee is NOK 24,750 per student.
• Participants can choose whether the course will award ECTS credits by completing a written exam at the end of the program.
• The course is approved for financial support through the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen).
• A detailed schedule for the sessions can be found here.
• For those needing accommodation in Oslo, we have a very favorable agreement with SMART Hotel (next door).
Book a room by calling Smart Hotel at 415 36 500 or emailing post.oslo@smarthotel.no, and reference the agreement with HLT to access the special rates. You can also book online at smarthotel.no using the corporate code: HLT6230.
HLT rates at Smart Hotel:
Present your student ID (provided on the first day of the course) when paying/checking in.
Example: Small standard room (single/double bed): NOK 710 (subject to change)
If you do not want breakfast, you can deduct NOK 50 per person.
Here are the lecturers and mentors for the course
Thomas Dorg
He is the academic coordinator and lead instructor for the program. He serves as a lecturer at the School of Leadership and Theology and is the Director of the King Institute.
He has taught conflict management at colleges and universities in Norway and abroad for over 15 years. He also has more than 17 years of experience in environmental and conflict work at asylum reception centers, including serving as an emergency mediator for UDI in multiple periods from 2012 to the present. Dorg has trained and guided leaders and staff teams in asylum and housing contexts for many years, with a focus on conflict-reducing environmental work.
Henrik Syse
He is a philosopher, author, lecturer, and professor.
He serves as the Chair of the Board of the King Institute and holds several prominent positions, including Chair of the Nobel Institute. He has authored numerous books and articles across various genres, including Det vi sier til hverandre (2015), På den ene siden (2022), Ord i krise (2020), and Ethics, Nationalism, and Just War: Medieval and Contemporary Perspectives (2007), among others. He is one of Norway’s most sought-after speakers and teaches at colleges and universities in Norway and abroad.
Per Erik Skogestad
He is the course coordinator.
He is part of UDI’s emergency conflict management team and has extensive experience in environmental therapeutic work and guidance in institutional and residential settings. In addition, he has long experience in mentoring and supporting youth at risk, as well as mediation and dialogue work within religious and belief communities. Skogestad also conducts conflict management training for staff at asylum reception centers under UDI.
Jai Ganapathy
He is a senior lecturer and researcher at the Norwegian Police University College (PHS).
Jai serves as the academic coordinator for the programs “Culture and Diversity” and “Conflict Management in a Diverse Society” at PHS. He is a social anthropologist who teaches and conducts research in cultural understanding, diversity, trust-building, and conflict management.
Karoline Løvoll Strømme
She holds a Master’s degree in Slavery and Emancipation from the University of Nottingham and has extensive practical experience in the same field. She previously founded and developed the organization For Freedom, which works on human trafficking and modern slavery in practice. She has also served as Research Coordinator at the King Institute in the project «Rekruttering av migrantarbeidere i matproduksjon i Norge».
Hear what two former students have to say about the program.
Hear what Thomas Dorg has to say about the program.
«Dette er studiet for deg som vil perfeksjonere deg i det krevende og viktige arbeidet på asylmottaket eller i bo-kollektivet, og samtidig formalisere kompetansen din.»
“We look forward to having you on the course. This is a great opportunity for professional growth and development, and we are sure that your participation will enrich the course.”
Linda Ringsvold,
course host and administratively responsible
To secure your place on the course or for questions, please contact Linda Ringsvold by e-mail: linda@kinginstituttet.no or call: 975 22 878.
Please note that the number of places is limited.