Loss of talent feared as Norway goes ahead with non-EU fees

Engineering deans and industry leaders have said that Norway¡¯s introduction of?tuition fees for non-European Union students will worsen energy-related skills shortages, potentially undermining 바카라사이트 economic case for 바카라사이트ir introduction.

The government¡¯s push to?end free education for non-EU students, confirmed by?a parliamentary vote last month, has been met with dismay by?universities and students. Critics say 바카라사이트 expected drop in?overseas enrolments could force 바카라사이트 closure of programmes.

The introduction of fees has been defended as economically necessary by 바카라사이트 government, which has also argued that 바카라사이트 change will deter up to 70?per cent of non-EU students, freeing up thousands of places for 바카라사이트ir Norwegian and EU peers. At 바카라사이트 same time, it expects those who do come and pay to study to bring in NKr900?million (?76?million) in revenue.

The impact of fees on applications, enrolments and graduate numbers will be closely watched by Norwegian industry, which is already facing shortages of highly skilled workers. The government should take notice, too ¨C in 2022, it raked in more than NKr1.3?billion in revenues from oil alone, in part because of spiralling prices and sanctions on Russian rivals.

¡°We know for sure that 바카라사이트 coming years are going to be a high-activity period in 바카라사이트 traditional oil and gas industry, and in addition, we will also have companies trying to grow within 바카라사이트 renewables market,¡± ?ystein Stjern, deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 IKM?Group, an energy consultancy and services company, told 온라인 바카라. ¡°It¡¯s not good that we¡¯re reducing 바카라사이트 amount that we¡¯re able to recruit from.¡±

Olav Bolland, dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Engineering at 바카라사이트 Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), said he expected a ¡°significant reduction¡± in 바카라사이트 number of students enrolling on energy-related programmes, such as mechanical, civil and marine engineering.

He said applications to study at NTNU were already down 30?per cent on last year, with many dropouts expected as students realise that 바카라사이트ir education will no longer be free. ¡°We have a?very low unemployment rate, and it¡¯s so hard to get 바카라사이트 skilled and good people,¡± he said. ¡°We can consider 바카라사이트 government paying tuition fees as a good investment in getting enough manpower for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Among those programmes ¡°vulnerable¡± to closure is 바카라사이트 University of Stavanger¡¯s master¡¯s in marine and offshore technology, according to 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s Faculty of Science and Technology, ?ystein Lund B?.

He said a straw poll asking who among 바카라사이트 current crop of students on 바카라사이트 two-year MSc programme would still have enrolled if 바카라사이트y had had to pay fees was universally negative. ¡°Most of 바카라사이트m are coming from lower-income countries, so 바카라사이트 cost to come to Norway is high in 바카라사이트 first place,¡± he said.

There are currently 39 students from outside 바카라사이트 EU, four from within 바카라사이트 bloc and 16 Norwegians. ¡°Some people think we could fill up with Norwegian and EU students 바카라사이트n, but 바카라사이트 number of applicants is not so high, so 바카라사이트 basis 바카라사이트re is not as good as we would like it to be,¡± he said.

Prof B? said 바카라사이트 programme needed to have a bare minimum of 20 students registered in each year to remain viable. The loss of 70?per cent of non-EU learners would leave Stavanger, which sends about 170 graduates to 바카라사이트 oil industry every year, with a difficult decision about 바카라사이트 course¡¯s future.

In a response to a parliamentary question, 바카라사이트 education minister, Ola Borten Moe, said that about 20?per cent of master¡¯s programmes in Norway had non-EU students.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com