Shaped by global perspectives from NMBU, Ritah now uses her knowledge to help refugees understand their rights and access the services that support their path to self‑reliance.
Name: Ritah Katusiime Sandvik
Job: Refugee Consultant in Nesodden Municipality
Study Programme: Global Development Studies
Completed studies at NMBU: 2011
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Ritah Katusiime Sandvik and I currently work as a Refugee Consultant in Nesodden Municipality. My main role is to coordinate municipal activities when settling in refugees. I design a long-term and comprehensive individualistic course for the integration of refugees. I process and follow up cases according to the Introduction and Integration Acts and I ensure close collaboration with various actors such as the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), including adult education institutions, education and health institutions, volunteer organizations, and employees.
My educational background and a series of jobs and roles contributed to and shaped my career path. Pursuing an MSc in Global Development Studies provided me with a robust, interdisciplinary foundation that I apply directly to my role as a Refugee Consultant. I acquired knowledge and skills such as understanding both the international and Norwegian laws regarding migration, understanding forced migration, policy analysis, environmental change, human rights, project management and these contribute to the facilitation and support for refugees.
Furthermore, I earlier worked as a Study Coordinator for master’s degree programmes and as a Project Research Assistant at Noragric - NMBU, as a free-lance translator and as a part-time Rehabilitation Therapist/ Social Worker in institutions where youth with social and behavioural challenges are placed. The knowledge and skills acquired from the above experiences were key to shaping my professional portfolio.
What attracted you to your programme at NMBU?
Having pursued a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies in Uganda, I had a further interest in deeply exploring some areas of interest concerning global politics, security, climate/ environmental change, economics, migration, and international law, among other fields.
Furthermore, coming from a developing country, it was interesting to explore the theories about various issues of development in another country that was categorized among the developed countries. I was curious and eager to experience and compare their level of growth to the occurrences in my home country, Uganda. I also wanted to have the opportunity to learn from fellow students from other spheres of the world, since NMBU was publicized as a university with many international students.
Lastly, I had the chance to study with NMBU bachelor’s degree students who studied for a semester at Makerere University, Uganda. Some of the students became my friends and they shared a lot of interesting stories about Norway and how the Norwegian education, political, economic, health and social systems were different from those of Uganda.
What was the most rewarding part of your studies?
What I enjoyed the most during my academic journey was the topics covered in most of the courses. I gained a global perspective and critical thinking on development issues, and the practical field experience enabled me to apply the theoretical knowledge I had acquired to real-world situations.
Studying with students from different parts of the world enabled me to exchange ideas and perspectives and this broadened my understanding of global issues. The teachers and staff at Noragric and NMBU at large were very welcoming and always ready to help or guide students. My interaction with them, not only as a student but alos as a class representative, contributed to building my professional network, as some of them later became my colleagues when I worked at Noragric two years after graduation.
How was the academic and social environment at NMBU?
NMBU, particularly Noragric as a department, is very international in population and coordinates interdisciplinary programmes. Having the chance to combine studies about various topics like social justice, policies, economics, environmental actions, cultural heritage, etc transformed my understanding and attitude towards addressing complex global problems.
Since I already had a partner and friends prior to joining NMBU, my social environment at NMBU was unique, smooth and fun. There were several extra-curricular activities organized by the university; however, I mostly enjoyed private events organized by my friends and a few classmates. I was also amazed by the living arrangements and classrooms; they were well-equipped. There were a few social challenges; for instance, it was difficult to deeply connect with some peers and I believe that the reason could have been due to cultural differences.
How do you use what you learned at NMBU in your current job?
I apply my theoretical knowledge, particularly about direct and indirect forced migration (global migration trends), conflict, human rights, international refugee regimes and understanding displacement in a practical day-to-day context. The knowledge and skills I acquired shape my understanding of the challenges refugees face. This guides me in conducting assessments that enable refugees to understand their rights and ability to access services aimed at contributing to their self-reliance through education and skill training.
What are your next career plans?
Considering my interest in international development and the continuously evolving global issues, I am considering pursuing a post graduate degree. I would also like to be more involved in research activities related to global development.
Any advice for future students?
Enrich yourselves with knowledge about past global events, understand theories about development and keep yourselves updated about current global perspectives. Get a clear understanding that challenges not only exist in the South, but globally. Embrace the fact that international development studies explore holistic approaches that include various fields such as politics, economics, geography and gender issues, among others. This will enable you to understand the current global affairs through an analytical lens and/ or a balanced view.
Keep showing up and network: Attend your classes, do your readings and interact with your classmates, teachers and if possible, connect with alumni. Gain digital literacy, learn at least one commonly used international language like Spanish, French, Swahili and if possible, specialise your studies in fields such as finance, public health, security, climate change, etc. This will shape your career journey.