Enthusiastic about a brand new study programme: ‘Always considered NHH as one of my options’
The brand new bachelor’s programme at NHH is very popular. Here is what students expect from BEDS.
‘It was the technology element of it that drew me here.’
So says Maria Fredrikke Fossdal (aged 24).
She is one of the very first students admitted to the new BSc in Business, Economics and Data Science (BEDS) at NHH.
‘I’ve always considered NHH as one of my options. As a student in Bergen, I knew about the good student environment and that the school is well reputed, so it has always been tempting. But I didn’t want to take an economics degree,’ she explains.
Fossdal is not alone.
Together with the regular economics bachelor, BEDS was one of Norway’s most popular study programmes this year.
‘Many options’
Four of them were Filip Svortevik (aged 22), Lukas Laeng (aged 21), Victor Goller (aged 19) and Espen Andreas Sildal (aged 22).
‘I look forward to it, I think it’s great and I’m proud. It’s also nice to be able to go to a school that will give me many options going forward,’ said Svortevik.
‘I’ve always loved subjects of a more numerical sort. After I served in the Armed Forces, I worked at a primary school and realised that it wasn’t right for me,’ Laeng says.
Goller is the only one of the group who will be taking the new bachelor’s programme:
‘I find technology very interesting and thought it would be cool to use it in the world of business. The fact that the degree was brand new was also attractive, so I just went for it.’
For Sildal, NHH’s good reputation was decisive:
‘I’ve always been told that, if you want to study economics, you have to do it in Bergen. In the same way that the best engineering programme is in Trondheim.’
‘Be brave, not perfect’
After musical antics from Dirmus, all the students were led into the auditorium for the more solemn matriculation ceremony.
In his opening speech, Rector Øystein Thøgersen emphasised that studying economics – in the broad sense – has never been more exciting. The background is the tense political situation we are seeing in various places in a closely interconnected world and challenges such as the climate crisis.
‘I think we have something in common, you as students and I as the rector – we are very excited about the years ahead.’
NHH alumna and entrepreneur Inga Øystese Hovde was the keynote speaker. Her clear recommendation was to look after yourself and those around you.
‘If you feel that everyone around you is better prepared and cleverer than you, that “everyone else” has made plans for the future and that you are struggling, think again – you’re not alone.’
Hovde encouraged the students to have a somewhat relaxed relationship with social norms and etiquette. In summary, she gave some clear advice:
- Strive for balance between self-discipline and self-care: Don't measure yourself based on grades alone.
- What is unique about you becomes important in working life, not how good you have been at 'fitting in'.
- Choose networks carefully: Find those who challenge and help you and who are straightforward.
- Don't isolate yourself at NHH: Seek out others with different perspectives and other environments.
- Be decent and take care of those around you.
- Be brave, not perfect.
‘USED TO BEING A GUINEA PIG’
After the ceremony in the auditorium, the students were led into the cafeteria for lunch and socialising.
Fossdal, who is about to start the brand new bachelor’s programme, was excited about what awaits her.
‘You’ll be a kind of guinea pig at BEDS, how do you feel about that?’
‘I’m used to being a guinea pig,’ said the 24-year-old, laughing.
‘I’ve been one during previous studies and think it’s been interesting to be part of the start of something. It also allows you to give feedback and make it even better for those who come after us.’
‘What do you expect to get out of the study programme?’
‘That we can become a link between people from different backgrounds in the technology field. It would also be great to gain a better understanding of how to combine economics with data and machine learning,’ says Fossdal:
‘The programme also seems to involve more practical elements and I’m pleased about that. It’s an important prerequisite for moving into the labour market, that you haven’t only spent your time in the reading room.’