Global uncertainty and rapid change

In a world marked by rapid change and profound global challenges, the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) aims to play a leading role in developing knowledge and expertise. Based on our Nordic values, NHH will represent quality, relevance and responsibility wherever challenges and opportunities arise.

• Elaboration

  Elaboration

  The most significant driver for NHH and other international business schools is technological change, particularly developments in artificial intelligence (AI). AI is not just one technological trend among many, but a profound structural shift impacting every aspect of higher education – from teaching and assessment to research, dissemination, administration, competition and the graduate labour market. New technology is reshaping NHH’s competitive landscape by lowering the threshold for alternative education providers and fragmented learning pathways. The combination of self-study and AI tools is increasingly becoming a real substitute for parts of traditional teaching. This challenges the role of education in society and makes it necessary to clarify what an NHH degree represents. The value must increasingly rest on competencies that cannot be automated: academic judgment, ethical reflection, social learning, structured progression and strong academic and professional communities. AI necessitates alternative and quality-assured forms of assessment, while also opening up new pedagogical opportunities through more individualised and student-active learning. AI is reshaping the skills requirements in the labour market, putting the traditional entry-level roles for economics graduates under pressure.

  At the same time, sustainability, the green transition and responsible value creation are more important than ever. Students, employers and society increasingly demand a combination of business acumen, technological insight and analytical skills, alongside sustainability, responsibility and societal impact. This underscores the need for NHH’s study programmes to cultivate both a strong academic foundation and capacities for critical thinking, sound judgment and continuous learning. It also places greater demands on education to stay relevant and continually innovative.

  The international political landscape is also changing. Greater geopolitical uncertainty, tighter migration and visa rules, and new tuition fees for non-EEA students are limiting international student mobility and increasing competition for talent. At the same time, political changes in other countries open up new opportunities as students seek stable, English-language alternatives in Europe. At the same time, political and financial frameworks are tightening nationally and internationally, with increased emphasis on societal relevance, accountability and alternative funding. Global trends are also posing new challenges and roles for educational institutions in total defence, security and emergency preparedness. In addition to safeguarding their own security, business schools like NHH must help develop relevant knowledge for total defence.

  Demographic and societal shifts represent another key global driver. Declining birth rates and the increasing demand for lifelong learning are transforming both the student recruitment base and expectations regarding the role of education. As the half-life of knowledge shortens due to technological change, continuing education and the capacity for lifelong learning become increasingly important.

  Together, these drivers create a strategic landscape in which NHH must not only adapt to rapid changes but also take a leadership role in defining what higher education is, how it is delivered and the value it should create for individuals and society.

our Mission statement

Together for sustainable value creation.

Purpose and vision

NHH will be a driving force for development in business and society, and will produce graduates who contribute to sustainable value creation. NHH aims to be a top European business school that leads the way in the development and dissemination of expertise.

• Elaboration of purpose and vision

  Elaboration of purpose and vision

  Sustainable development can be defined as a development path that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability has three interdependent components: climate and natural resources, social conditions and the economy.

  At NHH, sustainability challenges will be addressed in our research and dissemination; they will permeate our study programmes and be incorporated into the operation of our school. The breadth of the term sustainable is illustrated and explained in detail in the UN’s 17 global Sustainable Development Goals. NHH’s core activities will encompass a broad range of topics addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals. As a business school, NHH will have a particular focus on technological innovation, restructuring and policies that facilitate sustainable value creation and inclusive growth.

  NHH aims to be a top European business school. We will deliver education, research and dissemination at a high international level, while maintaining unique insight into Norwegian and Nordic contexts. This expertise will be combined with research-based knowledge of a high international standard. We will be the preferred business education in Norway, attracting the best students from across the country and internationally. We will employ outstanding staff with strong international ambitions. NHH will be characterised by a compact, vibrant campus and close relationships between students and staff across the organisation.

  NHH takes its social responsibility very seriously. NHH’s education programmes, research and dissemination will contribute to achieving the sectoral goals defined by the government. This includes the quality and accessibility of education, skills and research, increased Norwegian competitiveness, as well as the realisation of sustainable societal development, technological innovation and welfare. Our national and international ambitions will be harmonised and mutually reinforcing.

  NHH aims to be in the international top class in its field. This requires systematic efforts to achieve continuing quality development and professional development, the ability to attract excellent students and staff, and the development of an experimental, inclusive, quality-conscious and action-oriented organisation. Internationally recognised accreditations will ensure a comprehensive and rigorous quality assessment of the business school. The accreditations together with NHH’s participation in the CEMS alliance and the ENGAGE.EU network, help to raise NHH’s profile as a top European and international business school.

values

Quality, relevance and high ethical standards will underpin all activities at NHH. Students, staff and alumni are engaged, open and ambitious and passionate about creating positive change in society. 

• Elaboration of values

  Elaboration of values

  NHH has a strong culture of quality. It expects all operations to uphold high standards and every individual to contribute to maintaining them. This means that its research, teaching and dissemination is relevant and of a high academic standard and that the administrative processes are efficient and characterised by a high level of expertise and professionalism.

  Everyone at NHH shall promote and maintain high ethical standards. NHH’s activities will be based on the principle of free and independent research. Academic freedom will be exercised within ethical limits and in a manner that serves the interests of the discipline, NHH and society as a whole. The school’s organisational culture and learning and working environment will be experimental and inclusive, and the organisation will be characterised by the ability and willingness to advance NHH’s common goals and ambitions.

  The value of being engaged is about identifying with the institution, contributing to a high level of activity and playing an active part in the life of the community, both on campus and by making positive contributions to society.

  The value of being open reflects a number of qualities that characterise members of the NHH community:

  • that we are intellectually open and curious
  • that we are inclusive and treat others with respect
  • that we have an international focus
  • that we value diversity
  • that we communicate openly, both internally and externally

  The value of being ambitious reflects the fact that individuals set high goals for themselves and for the institution.

Strategic priorities

For the 2026–2029 strategy period, NHH will prioritise four areas that span the entire organisation. These focus areas will ensure that the school lives up to its mission statement – Together for sustainable value creation – and will help achieve NHH’s goals of being an international, leading and relevant European business school that takes its social responsibility very seriously. 

• Application and understanding of artificial intelligence and new technologies

  Application and understanding of artificial intelligence and new technologies

  A comprehensive focus on artificial intelligence (AI) will position NHH as a leader in the application and understanding of AI for decision-making, value creation and efficiency.

  AI will affect all aspects of higher education – from teaching and forms of assessment to research, administration, the competitive landscape and the graduate labour market. AI is not an isolated tool, but a transformative force that affects how knowledge is developed, communicated, assessed and applied.

  NHH will educate graduates for the workforce of the future, with a thorough, integrated understanding of economics, technology (including AI) and sustainability. Graduates will be equipped to handle complexity, restructuring and uncertainty, and be able to engage in continuous learning in a rapidly evolving labour market.

  The 'translator’ role is becoming increasingly important. A critical skill for NHH graduates going forward is the ability to translate unstructured and incomplete data into decision-relevant information, and to convert technological opportunities – especially in AI – into sound, responsible and value-creating decisions in both private and public organisations.

  The stronger the critical thinking, the greater the value created through the use of AI. Effective and responsible use of AI requires analytical judgment, professional expertise and the ability to ask the right questions. Employers will seek strong analytical minds with sound subject knowledge and business acumen – not graduates who only master the technical use of, or prompt-writing for, generative AI.

  New technology increases the need for uniquely human qualities. While analytical skills and critical thinking must be strengthened, skills in communication, creativity, ethics, empathy and collaboration are becoming increasingly important. AI changes the tools we use and the way we work, but not the need for human judgment, responsibility and reflection.

  NHH’s ambition is not to become a leader in technical and technological AI development, but to become a leader in the application and understanding of AI in decision-making, innovation and efficiency in organisations. NHH will provide research insights on the responsible, value-driven and sustainable use of AI in business and government.

  NHH will lead the way in demonstrating how AI and other emerging technologies can contribute to increased value creation through their application in strategy, organisation, decision-making and business models. This involves a greater focus on the responsible, efficient and value-driven application of technology in Norwegian organisations.  

• Competitiveness and value creation

  Competitiveness and value creation

  NHH will contribute to increased competitiveness and value creation in Norway through relevant and innovative research, teaching and dissemination.

  NHH’s mission statement is ‘Together for sustainable value creation’. To give this ambition real strategic substance, the concept of value creation must be emphasised more clearly. Value creation must be understood as more than just the efficient use of resources in the short term: It is about innovation, productivity, adaptability and long-term competitiveness.

  Norway has a documented potential for improvement in innovation and value creation, and lags behind several other Nordic countries on key indicators for productivity, innovation pace and knowledge commercialisation. NHH will adopt a clearer and more cohesive position in sustainable value creation and innovation, across education, research and dissemination. As a national knowledge institution, NHH has a particular responsibility to develop and disseminate research-based insights that can advance socially sustainable development, reduce inequality, promote responsible value creation and facilitate greater innovation and adaptability in both the private and public sectors.

  Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship will gain a more prominent role in education, research and practice-oriented learning. NHH aims to educate graduates who not only understand existing businesses, but who also have the ability to create new ones or drive innovation and change within established organisations.

  NHH will take a more prominent role as an agenda setter in shaping how Norway can achieve value creation amid technological, economic and geopolitical change.

• Knowledge in a global context

  Knowledge in a global context

  NHH will be a leading and internationally oriented business school, where internationalisation is integrated into the entire organisation. By generating new and relevant knowledge of international and geopolitical affairs, NHH aims to increase the knowledge and preparedness of decision-makers in private and public organisations.

  Internationalisation makes NHH more open, innovative and better equipped to meet the challenges of the future. Internationalisation contributes to a diverse learning, research and working environment. Internationalisation also promotes openness, critical reflection, new perspectives, innovation and understanding across cultures. Internationalisation is crucial for ensuring academic excellence, relevance and impact in a global knowledge economy.

  NHH will educate graduates who possess relevant knowledge of how international developments relate to local decision-making. Teaching will be developed and strengthened to enable students to understand and manage risk, uncertainty and strategic trade-offs in a global context. In this way, NHH contributes to building organisational preparedness and resilience in private and public organisations.

  NHH will play a more prominent role in the development of relevant knowledge about international trade, risk management, regulations and global value and supply chains. This can be achieved by strengthening existing research initiatives or facilitating new ones at the intersection of total defence, preparedness, international trade and risk management on one hand, and economics, technology, sustainability and security on the other. NHH will thus help bolster knowledge, trust, and resilience in responding to emerging national and international challenges.

  NHH will further develop and strengthen its position as Norway's most international educational institution. Internationalisation will be integrated across the organisation through student exchanges, the international recruitment of students and staff, strong global networks and research and teaching focused on relevant international knowledge.

  NHH will strengthen and further develop its international partnerships and networks, particularly through CEMS, ENGAGE.EU and strategic research collaborations with leading institutions worldwide. NHH will leverage these networks more actively to develop joint education programmes, research initiatives, mobility opportunities and innovative projects.

  NHH will offer an inclusive, attractive and well-functioning international campus environment. NHH will develop better frameworks for the social, academic and cultural inclusion and integration of international students and staff. This will ensure that campus diversity is increasingly translated into learning, quality, cooperation and community.

• Vibrant campus

  Vibrant campus

  In an increasingly digital world, learning, trust and human interaction are becoming ever more important and valuable. NHH’s physical campus and ecosystem will be a unique academic and social learning environment that fosters collaboration, communication and skills that technology cannot replace. 

  Learning and campus life are among NHH’s most important competitive advantages. Value is created not only in the classroom, but also through the interactions among students, faculty, the student association, the business community, international partners and NHH’s entire network. This holistic learning ecosystem provides a level of quality and depth in education that digital and fragmented learning platforms struggle to match.

  In an AI-driven educational landscape, the human dimension becomes increasingly important. New technology reinforces the importance of social competence, communication skills, cooperation, interdisciplinary understanding, empathy and ethical judgement. NHH is uniquely positioned to develop these skills through a vibrant campus, in close collaboration with the student association and external stakeholders.

  AI enables individualised and personalised learning to a much greater extent than before. The combination of student + AI can enhance preparation, practice and in-depth study, and free up time for more active and dialogue-based teaching. At the same time, the classroom and engaged teachers are essential for developing critical thinking, reflection and ‘Socratic learning’, skills that cannot be automated.

  NHH will place greater emphasis on physical presence and active participation on campus, for both students and staff. This may involve more learning activities that require physical attendance, to ensure that students develop the skills we define as critical for achieving the learning objectives.

  NHH will be a driving force for pedagogical innovation. This involves the continuous development of teaching methods, assessment forms and learning environments that combine the best of physical teaching on campus, digital tools and AI, and that support student-active learning.

  The programmes will be more practice-oriented and aligned with the needs of the labour market. Increased use of case-based teaching, project work in collaboration with organisations and a greater emphasis on internships and practical experience will strengthen the link between theory and application, giving students a better understanding of value creation in practice.

  New alliances and innovative forms of corporate engagement on campus will be developed. The campus will be a meeting place for students, researchers, the business community and public sector actors, where shared challenges, innovation projects and learning activities contribute to both skills development and value creation.

Main objectives and sub-objectives

NHH has defined main objectives and sub-objectives in four areas.

• Education

  Education

  Main Objective

  NHH shall educate excellent business economists and future leaders with sound analytical skills, a good understanding of technology, broad social competence and a strong commitment to society.

  In the full-time programs as well as the Executive Education programs, NHH will educate sought-after candidates for the domestic and international labor markets, who will have the knowledge, expertise and attitudes that contribute to and set the course for sustainable value creation. We will have a positive culture for learning, research-based, student-active teaching and programs with ambitious learning goals.

  Objective 1: Admission quality and diversity

  NHH will attract students with strong academic results and a high motivation for learning

  NHH shall be an attractive choice for talented students. We will offer the preferred business economics program in Norway and recruit from among the top students at home and abroad. We will promote diversity, with an emphasis on gender balance, geographical affiliation and socio-economic background among the students, and we will work consciously to realize the learning potential of uniting students and knowledge from different countries and cultures.

  From the admission process to the students’ time at NHH and their transition to being alumni, a high-quality, well-organized course of study will be delivered. By emphasizing the great depth and breadth of the courses offered and NHH candidates’ various career paths, we will attract a diverse and motivated group of applicants.

  Objective 2: Quality of studies and pedagogy

  NHH shall provide an excellent learning environment with a vibrant campus and student-active learning.

  As a leading European business school, the NHH study program will offer core competency within all business and economics disciplines while also providing unique expertise regarding Norwegian and Nordic circumstances. NHH will produce candidates with relevant theoretical and analytical competence and strong problem-solving and communication skills. The study programs will clearly reflect NHH’s mission statement as well as a commitment to digitalization and technology and knowledge of entrepreneurship and innovation. Issues related to social, economic and environmental sustainability will feature prominently in all programs. We will be developing a bachelor’s degree specialization with particular emphasis on sustainability and technology, and as part of the university alliance ENGAGE.EU, we will be developing a new innovative study program relating to sustainability and value creation.

  NHH shall have a diverse, inclusive and vibrant campus that fosters a positive psychosocial learning environment. We will use our insight from accreditation processes to further develop the courses offered to students and improve our quality work. We will also make use of the opportunities that an active and engaged student association provides.

  NHH will provide a diverse set of study programs that have a good balance between different types of physical and digital teaching and assessment. One of our objectives is to develop closer ties between students and teachers, as well as further develop student-active learning by applying for a Centre for Excellence in Education. The Pedagogical Academy, which is made up of those lecturers who have achieved excellent teaching practitioner status through the merit system, will be used for the development work.

  NHH will maintain its national leading position in the student exchange area and further improve the quality of the student exchange scheme. Together with its partners within CEMS and ENGAGE.EU, NHH will develop innovative and interdisciplinary international study programs.

  Objective 3: Graduate quality and relevance

  NHH graduates shall be preferred in the Norwegian labor market, attractive in international labor markets and be qualified for the best international master’s degree and PhD programs.

  Facing a range of societal challenges, our societies call for innovation, policies, restructuring and new business models that will contribute to sustainable value creation. NHH will educate candidates so that they possess the knowledge, expertise and attitudes that are highly sought-after in the domestic and international labor markets. NHH will continue to develop a flexible high-quality executive education program that is adapted to the needs for restructuring and lifelong learning.

  We will educate economists, future leaders and experts who will participate in all aspects of business, from start-ups to large multinationals, in all types of industries, the private and public sectors and voluntary organizations. With their knowledge, skills and commitment, they will make a positive difference in their respective environments.

• Research

  Research

  Main objective

  NHH shall be a research-intensive business school with research at a high international level.

  NHH’s research will contribute to expertise on sustainable business models and sustainable development in general for the corporate world and society as a whole. NHH will conduct internationally acknowledged, high-quality research in all areas that are central to an international business school. NHH shall be an attractive workplace for outstanding researchers.

  Objective 1: High quality

  NHH shall have a research-active faculty that produces high-quality research and cutting-edge expertise at the highest international level.

  NHH’s research shall be characterized by openness, integrity, and high quality and shall contribute to sustainable development. NHH’s faculty shall be successful in the competition for external research funds, both nationally and internationally. NHH will continue to develop its cutting-edge expertise in topics that are central to an international business school, and a larger share of the faculty will publish at the highest international level. NHH will actively engage in research, and all members of faculty are expected to regularly publish high-quality research.

  NHH will continue the development of its research centre initiative to stimulate more research groups to develop cutting-edge expertise at a high international level.

  Objective 2: Relevance to business and society

  NHH’s relevant and independent research will contribute to decisions that promote innovation, sustainable value creation and development in business and public institutions.

  Based on its broad field of research, NHH will provide new insight and knowledge for the business community and society both in Norway and internationally. NHH’s research will provide expertise with the potential to improve decision- and policymaking in the corporate world and in public institutions, and, in turn, provide foundations for positive change in society. NHH’s research will directly address to many of the societal challenges behind the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Based on its research, NHH will help to better prepare society for future challenges. NHH will develop its research collaborations within and across disciplines, with other research institutions nationally and internationally, as well as with public and private institutions.

  Objective 3: Solid and in-demand PHD program

  NHH’s PhD program shall be of high international quality.

  NHH’s PhD program will attract the best Norwegian students as well as strong international students. The PhD program shall be an integrated part of the research activities at NHH, and its quality shall be at a high international level. Graduates will succeed in the competition for scholarly positions at recognised international institutions and be sought-after by knowledge-intensive institutions and firms outside of academia.

• Collaboration with the business community and society

  Collaboration with the business community and society

  Main objective

  NHH shall disseminate research-based knowledge and set the agenda for public debate. NHH shall strengthen interaction and collaboration with the business community and public institutions, and the alumni network shall be further strengthened.

  NHH’s communication and interaction with the business community and society shall cover the entire thematic breadth that characterizes leading international business schools. Relevance and competence in sustainable value creation shall characterize NHH’s contribution.  

  Objective 1: Collaboration for the common good

  By means of recognized expertise within innovation, business models and sustainable development, NHH shall be a preferred partner for the corporate world and public institutions.

  Cooperation with relevant stakeholders and a vital alumni network will play a key role in NHH’s further development and provide its partners with relevant insights of high quality. The activities of NHH Executive, NHH’s wing for executive education, will be a catalyst for developing NHH’s partnership with companies, public institutions and individuals with a desire for more competence.

  NHH alumni hold key positions in society and serve as ambassadors for the school. By cultivating even stronger relationships with our alumni, the alumni network will be further developed to utilize its full potential to form links to the business community and public institutions.

  Objective 2: communication based on knowledge

  NHH faculty shall disseminate research findings and expertise to provide insights and strengthen public debate by challenging and influencing opinions.

  Such dissemination will enhance NHH’s visibility nationally and internationally and also provide information about its profile and activities to potential and existing students, alumni and other stakeholders in the business community and society.

  The school’s academic relevance and competence are highlighted and enhanced by members of the academic staff sitting on expert committees, boards and councils. NHH’s communication will be independent, transparent and accountable. Communication, dissemination and social responsibility shall be an integrated part of the activities of the individual faculty members and the departments. NHH is seeking to increase its number of active disseminators.

  Objective 3: An attractive meeting place

  NHH shall be an open and accessible institution that cultivates dialogue with its surroundings at the regional, national and international level.

  NHH will offer a variety of conferences, seminars and other meeting places of high quality that accommodate the needs of our networks and stakeholders.

  These meeting places will extend across all the school's areas of academic expertise. They shall be designed to inspire and stimulate creativity, discussion and knowledge exchange between researchers, businesses, public institutions, NGOs, students, alumni and other stakeholders.

• Organization and resources

  Organization and resources

  Main objective

  NHH shall have an efficient, flexible and adaptable organization that facilitates high quality and excellent performance within education and research and in its interaction with the business community and society.

  Objective 1: Human resources take center stage

  NHH shall recruit, facilitate the professional development of and retain highly qualified, motivated faculty and staff who possess sound and relevant expertise. NHH shall promote diversity in all areas with a particular emphasis on a better gender balance in academic positions.

  NHH will be an attractive workplace for highly qualified individuals. NHH will facilitate professional development for all employees and promote positive collegial cooperation. Systematic managerial development at all levels will enhance personnel, research and strategic management.

  NHH will recruit academic staff at a high international level through conscious, targeted recruitment. NHH will pursue an active recruitment policy that facilitates a better gender balance in academic positions.

  Objective 2: Development of the organization

  The culture at NHH shall promote a good working environment and active citizenship, where all of NHH is working together. NHH’s organization shall be characterized by professionalism, flexibility and efficient work processes and the ability to cooperate across units and functions to achieve its goals.

  NHH will be characterized by a collective ability to promote common goals and ambitions, and the sharing of knowledge and experience will be encouraged. Decision-making processes, committees and other internal meeting places will be formed and further developed to ensure efficient organizational engagement, involvement and anchoring of decisions.

  Work processes shall be efficient, rational and a high quality throughout. Digitalization will lead to better and more efficient work processes and thereby also free up resources for other important tasks.

  NHH will pursue a language policy that effectively balances NHH’s national responsibilities with its international ambitions. Clear language policy guidelines will specify how the policy should be implemented and administered in NHH’s core activities and organization.

  Objective 3: Robust financial room of maneuver

  NHH shall increase its financial flexibility to ensure financial strength and stability and to create a basis for strategic initiatives. Financial flexibility shall be improved through increased income from externally funded research projects and the school’s Executive Education programs.

  Targeted financial planning will ensure a stable and robust financial position and facilitate a sound financial flexibility. Financial and resource management at NHH will be effective and reliable. The internal allocation of resources will be anchored in the strategy and underpin the realization of NHH’s strategic ambitions.

  Objective 4: Timely infrastructure and development of the campus

  The buildings, grounds and infrastructure at NHH shall be of a high standard and support our ambitions of creating an excellent working and learning environment.

  The NHH campus will be adapted to meet the needs of students and staff in relation to space and opportunities for interaction. Premises used for teaching and learning will be flexible and accommodate varying forms of teaching and learning. NHH will draw up a campus development plan that supports the institution’s strategic goals. Development of the buildings and accessible outdoor areas will have top priority in the plan.

  Digital infrastructure that effectively and appropriately supports academic and administrative activities will be improved end extended. NHH’s researchers shall have access to relevant, up-to-date research infrastructure that facilitates high-quality research.

  By taking targeted and proportionate measures, NHH will ensure that its activities and operations support a sustainable development and that its carbon footprint is reduced.

NHH's strategy 2026-2029 (PDF)