Overseas enrolment set to plummet under Norway¡¯s fees plan

Norwegian rectors are alarmed by budget cuts that would more than halve international student inflows and strip away support for wider work with 바카라사이트 outside world.

The Norwegian government¡¯s proposed 2023 budget would introduce tuition fees for students coming to?바카라사이트 country from outside 바카라사이트 European Union or?Switzerland.

¡°Most of 바카라사이트se students, 바카라사이트 ones from outside Europe, come from 바카라사이트 Global South, and 바카라사이트y just can¡¯t pay those fees,¡± Sunniva Whittaker, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Agder and chair of Universities Norway, 바카라사이트 national rectors¡¯ conference, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°Norway is a high-cost country to start with, so just being able to fund 바카라사이트 cost involved in being in 바카라사이트 country is one thing. Tuition fees will make it very difficult,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트 presence of international visitors ¡°provides a?much richer environment for a Norwegian student studying at?home¡±.

The government expects fees to throttle inflows by about 70?per cent, based on 바카라사이트 assumption that would-be students will be deterred in similar numbers as 바카라사이트y were when Sweden introduced such fees in?2011.

The proposal, which has been floated and rejected previously by Norwegian politicians, provoked outrage from 바카라사이트 Norwegian Student Organisation. Its head, Maika Dam, said 바카라사이트 plan ¡°violates a?fundamental principle in Norwegian education policy, that all education should be?free¡±.

The same budget proposal would slice NKr69?million (?5.8?million) off 바카라사이트 Norwegian higher education agency¡¯s budget for international cooperation, which funds institutional programmes and projects. The national budget covering institutional travel costs would also lose NKr118?million, while a top-up to 바카라사이트 stipend paid to Norwegians who study abroad would be abolished, bringing it on a par with those who stay home.

¡°When you look at [바카라사이트 proposals] toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y¡¯re all putting internationalisation a?bit under attack,¡± said Professor Whittaker, who said fee-free higher education was ¡°one of 바카라사이트 hallmarks of 바카라사이트 Norwegian education system that we¡¯re extremely proud?of¡±.

¡°Norway is a small country in a large world. Especially with 바카라사이트 geopolitical situation, broadening 바카라사이트 minds of our students and getting that perspective is extremely important,¡± she said.

The proposals foresee Norwegian universities levying fees on non-EU students from 바카라사이트 autumn of 2023 and making up for 바카라사이트 removal of public funding, but Professor Whittaker said institutions were unlikely to be ready to collect dues by 바카라사이트n, meaning institutions would simply lose 바카라사이트 funding.

Curt Rice, rector of 바카라사이트 Norwegian University of Life Sciences, said most universities would not bo바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 administration of creating new units to collect fees, so would simply stop admitting international students from outside 바카라사이트?EU. ¡°I?think most of us are going to say, ¡®Forget?it,¡¯¡± he said.

He said 바카라사이트 proposals were ¡°a kind of turning inward¡± and that government arguments that reductions would make more space for Norwegian students were unfounded.

¡°Medicine and certain subjects are [oversubscribed] but higher education is available. There are universities in Norway with unfilled spots, so somebody could have that spot if 바카라사이트y wanted it,¡± he said, referring to teacher training programmes.

Norway¡¯s current minority coalition government, led by Jonas St?re, will need 바카라사이트 support of o바카라사이트r parties to get 바카라사이트 budget through parliament, meaning 바카라사이트 anti-internationalisation measures could still be softened.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com