Brought the whole class to learn about human rights
People live and work under conditions that few in Norway can imagine. During One Ocean Week, students and other participants got to experience these realities up close.
Beneath the teak decks and towering masts of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, the agenda for the day was not ropes and sails, but human rights in the ocean industries. 150 local and international participants attended the event, organised by NHH and the Rafto Foundation, on board the ship to listen, learn and discuss.
Among them was Thea Lillevik Bårdsen, a teacher in science and economics at the IB diploma programme at Bergen Cathedral School, who brought her entire class. “Economics doesn’t just happen on paper. It happens in the real world and affects real people and communities,” she said.
“I want my students to understand that economic decisions are rarely simple. Balancing profitability with fairness and environmental concerns requires ethical reflection and an understanding of complex interconnections.”
A Powerful experience
One of Bårdsen’s students who took part was 17-year-old Erik Hickman. “It was very interesting to participate. We got many good and real-life examples of human rights challenges in the ocean industries,” Hickman said.
“I knew things were bad, but not this bad. The images showing the living conditions of workers on certain ships – without space, air, light or fresh food – really made an impression,” he added.
Poor working conditions, modern slavery, and the challenges of keeping track of complex supply chains were among the topics highlighted through presentations and panel discussions during the two-hour event.
Part of One Ocean Week
Among the speakers was Grieg Green, who explained how the company works for sustainable ship recycling by building close relationships with shipyards and monitoring working conditions in different parts of the world.
In Short: One Ocean Week in Bergen
- Annual week focusing on the ocean and sustainability.
- Takes place in Bergen, 21–27 April 2025.
- Initiated by the City of Bergen, in partnership with business, academia and organizations.
- NHH participated with two events organised under the ENGAGE.EU university alliance.
- In addition to external speakers, NHH had Øystein Thøgersen, Haiying Jia, Steffen Juranek and Rafto NHHS on stage.
The seminar was one of two events organised by NHH during One Ocean Week in Bergen, a week that brings together business, research, and organisations to raise important issues related to the ocean and sustainability.
Together with Vestland County, NHH also hosted a seminar on how governance and communication can drive engagement, reduce resistance and ensure a fair green transition.