The Minister of Education considers compulsory exchange for students
The Minister for Research and Higher Education, Iselin Nybø (Liberals), will consider obligatory exchange abroad for Norwegian students.
This she informs the student newspaper Khrono.
– We have a long-term aim that half of all Norwegian students will spend time abroad in the course of their study – but are aware that we are far from reaching that target at present, Nybø tells Nettavisen.
About 15 per cent of Norwegian students went abroad in 2015, but the proportion of students who stay for more than 3 months is below 3 per cent, according to figures from the Norwegian centre for research data (NSD/DBH).
Figures from the student survey Eurostudent show that those who do not plan to exchange, consider the economy as being the largest obstacle.
Compulsory
– The numbers of what are perceived as challenges are important, but we may have to look a bit at our selves in the mirror as well. Is it perhaps the case that Norwegian students are a little too fond of home? For the most part, we feel safe and sound in Norway, and it may be easy to continue down the straight and narrow, says Nybø.
She adds that the survey also shows great variation in how well the study programs facilitate for exchange.
Her predecessor in the job, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (Conservatives), introduced the idea that exchange ought to be the standard for students, and that one should have to apply to be exempt from an exchange.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
