Win-win situation for new scholarships

The business community sponsors study places at NHH for students from Eastern Europe, providing a win-win situation for all parties, says James Hosea from NHH's Information department.

26.02.2007 - Kristian T. Marthinsen

Katarzyna Gierelo from Poland was interested in Norway, and jumped at the opportunity when she saw the possibility for a scholarship at NHH.

While the business community gets access to competent and motivated students, the students get free tuition and an allowance for living expenses at one of Europe's leading businesses schools. NHH, on the other hand, gets bright, competent students and as well as stronger links with the business community and partner schools overseas.

Strengthening relations
Scholarships provided by Rieber & Søn and the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation provide economic support for students while they take an MSc in International Business at NHH.

- Both of these companies have meaningful business interests in Eastern Europe, and such cooperation strengthens relations between Norway, Poland, and the Baltic States, says John A. Andersen, Director of International Relations at NHH.

The King Oscar scholarship programme provided Rieber & Søn offers a scholarship of 140 000 kroner (approximately US$22,500 or €17,000) to a Polish student, while the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation offers two scholarships of 200 000 kroner (approximately US$32,000 or €24,500) to students studying at one of NHH's partner schools in the Baltic States. These scholarships are offered exclusively to applicants for the MSc in International Business programme at NHH.

Cultural Understanding
A survey done by AFF shows that Norwegian managers do not wish to be stationed outside of Norway for extended periods of time. It is therefore difficult for Norwegian companies to become familiar with the cultural differences in the countries in which they operate.

- If Norwegian companies are to grow internationally, they must either adapt their culture or employ local co-workers and managers, says Hosea.

The students who receive such scholarships are introduced to the companies, get a good education, and become familiar with the local culture.

- By offering these students summer jobs and internships, like Rieber & Søn does, the foreign students learn the Norwegian language and become immersed in Norwegian business culture. The companies get the best of both worlds, continues Hosea.

Network is important
Katarzyna Gierelo from Poland has one semester left of her MSc in International Business at NHH. Her education is financed through the King Oscar scholarship programme, and she is extremely satisfied with both her study period and her work experience at Rieber & Søn.

- My summer job in Rieber & Søn was extremely interesting. I learned a great deal, and moreover I enjoyed the experience of working in a Norwegian company, reflects Gierelo

Furthermore, Gierelo believes that having a preexisting network is an indispensable asset when one wants to do good job in a Norwegian company outside of Norway.

- Having a social network is important for many when they move to a new place. It can be very advantageous for companies when they employ people who already have a network outside of the country, says Gierelo.

Gierelo plans to eventually move home to Poland, but first wants to learn Norwegian and work for a couple of years in Norway.