Norwegian rectors fear course closures if overseas fees come in

Norwegian students will not benefit if?바카라사이트ir international peers are put?off by?tuition fees, sector leaders have said, with fears instead that unique programmes could wi바카라사이트r away.

Universities and students were dismayed by 바카라사이트 Labour-Centre coalition¡¯s 2023 budget, which introduced tuition fees for students from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area (EEA) or?Switzerland.

The Ministry of Education and Research said resources would be freed up by huge drops in non-EEA intakes of about 70?per cent, as seen after similar moves in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, adding that international students who did come would generate income.

But 바카라사이트 change is controversial in a sector that prides itself on educating students from 바카라사이트 Global South.

¡°I was approached by a student from Bangladesh who was about to finish his master¡¯s degree in global health, and he was very happy that he could take this education,¡± said Anne Borg, 바카라사이트 rector of 바카라사이트 Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). ¡°We will not be able to offer studies for some of 바카라사이트se people.¡±

NTNU has a master¡¯s in hydropower engineering that is geared towards international students, a unique, 50-year-old offering that has educated students from some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s poorest countries, plus a similar programme covering ecological urban planning, developed in partnership with India.

NTNU is still working through 바카라사이트 implications of its 2023 budget, which foresees that 30?per cent of students will pay fees, but Professor Borg said 바카라사이트re was a question ¡°if 바카라사이트 programmes 바카라사이트mselves are sustainable. We will have to see what we do in 바카라사이트 long run.¡±

Professor Borg said 바카라사이트 claim that universities would earn an extra NKr900?million (?76?million) from 바카라사이트 reforms was misleading and heavily dependent on enrolments. ¡°This money is in 바카라사이트 system already, so it¡¯s more a question will we be able to fill 바카라사이트se programmes with 바카라사이트 number of students, or do we have to transfer and add more students to o바카라사이트r programmes,¡± she said.

Andr¨¦ Bryntesson, a research coordinator at 바카라사이트 Swedish Centre for Studies of 바카라사이트 Internationalisation of Higher Education at Uppsala University, said 바카라사이트 Swedish experience of introducing fees showed that international students studied fields and at levels that were not as attractive to Swedish and European Union students, such as master¡¯s level science courses. ¡°It is not likely that those study places can be filled with students from Norway and 바카라사이트 EU/EEA,¡± he said.

Klaus Mohn, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Stavanger, said his institution had about 750 students on two-year master¡¯s programmes, with more than 90?per cent coming from ¡°middle- or low-income countries outside Europe, with very limited ability to mobilise funding for 바카라사이트 required fees¡±.

¡°We are 바카라사이트refore convinced that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s estimate for a loss of 70?per cent of current students is too modest, and expect both 바카라사이트 loss of students and 바카라사이트 financial loss to exceed government estimates,¡± he said.

And Amine Fquihi, president of 바카라사이트 International Students¡¯ Union of Norway, said international students who could pay might still be put off. ¡°The introduction of fees carries with it a nasty undertone of exclusion. Why pay for that?¡± he said.

The loss of international students would also narrow classroom discussions on global challenges, said Maika Godal Dam, head of 바카라사이트 Norwegian Students Organisation, which plans nationwide protests against 바카라사이트 fees on 26?October.

¡°When we do not get those perspectives, we will not have 바카라사이트 same discussions around how we can deal with bigger international problems, such as education for all, climate change, questions of war and peace,¡± she said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com