Go north, youngsters

6 Wednesday July 15, 2015
COMMUNITY
 Norwegian consul exchanges with Shanghai students for study abroad
Go north, youngsters
By Ni Dandan
M
ore than 20 Chinese students
recently gathered at Fudan
University’s Nordic Center
prior to their departure to further their
studies in Norway. Although not as
popular as other overseas destinations
such as the US, the UK or Australia,
the consul of the Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai, Siri Borgen,
said her country has been attracting
a growing number of international
students, including a large contingent
from China.
“I think one reason is because
Norwegian institutions are now offering degrees in numerous subjects
in English, but in the past what they
offered was only in Norwegian,” consul
Siri Borgen told the Global Times. “And
that of course was a big hindrance for
international students.”
The exchange was organized by
NorAlumni, a nongovernmental and
nonprofit Norway-based organization
established at the beginning of this year
with the aim of strengthening research
collaboration, student exchange and
industrial partnership between China
and Norway.
Free tuition
Talking about the attractions for
international students, Siri Borgen said
that Norway has a number of industries
and technologies that students will find
quite unique to their country, such as
the study of offshore and green technologies and architectural design.
Zhang Yinan, who completed his
bachelor’s degree in architecture at
Southeast University, said he has waited
three years for the chance to go to
Norway to further his studies. “Nordic
architecture has strong features and I’m
personally very attracted by it,” said the
28-year-old, who was recently admitted to the Oslo School of Architecture
and Design in Oslo, the capital city of
Norway.
“But these architectural styles are not
necessarily appreciated by the majority
of the public in China,” Zhang told the
Global Times, “so I’m not sure if I’ll
really be able to apply what I will learn
in Oslo into my future career in China.
Anyway, what’s important for me now
is to experience the architecture and
lifestyle there in Europe.”
Other students, however, were quite
frank in their admission that what
attracted them most about studying in
Norway was the offer of free tuition. Lu
Dichun, who obtained her bachelor’s
degree from East China University of
Political Science and Law, is on her way
to studying maritime law in Norway.
“Normally it costs between 200,000
yuan ($32,220) and 300,000 yuan for
just one year of study at a Western law
school. You can tell how much I will
save by studying in Norway,” Lu smiled.
Even though Lu said she has no idea if
China needs more talent in maritime
law, the fact that these laws are universally applicable means that the knowledge will be useful no matter which
nation she eventually settles down in.
“I would consider settling down in
Norway or other European countries if
the career development prospects are
good there,” she told the Global Times.
During the farewell event at Fudan
University’s Nordic Center, the consul
reminded these departing students that
although the Norwegian government
considers access to higher education a
free right for all, students will need to
pay a small semester fee of 500 yuan.
“In exchange, you’ll receive membership with your local student organization and lots of advantages coming
along with that,” she told students.
Living expenses, however, can be
rather expensive in European countries
such as Norway. As such, she reminded
students not to forget to take advantage
of student benefits such as discounted
public transport and affordable student
housing.
Cultural immersion
Many students at the event expressed
their anticipation and apprehension
about studying alongside their future
Norwegian peers. Daniel Hellenes, a
young man from Norway, conceded that
Norwegians are typically a bit shy about
taking the initiative to converse with
strangers. He suggested that going to a
bar could be a solution.
“I’m joking a little, but it’s also true.
If you have a beer together, it’s easier
for Norwegians to talk, and then we can
talk for hours and hours,” he laughed.
Hellenes also suggested that Chinese
students find a language partner to pick
up some Norwegian to better integrate
into the local life.
One cultural aspect that Norwegians
and Chinese do have in common is
a love of home-cooking. The Chinese
students were advised to cook their
own native dishes for new Norwegian
friends as another way of bonding.
Liu Shiyin, who will study finance at
Norwegian Business School, the largest
business school in Norway and the
second largest in all of Europe, said she
is not too worried about integrating herself into the local community. She told
the Global Times that her uncle and
aunt have been living in Oslo for years
and are looking forward to her arrival.
“The fact that I have close relatives
there is one of the reasons I chose Norway. Also, the competition for a spot in
a decent postgraduate school in China
is very fierce. It’s a nice option to go to
Norway,” she said. Liu told the Global
Times that she started preparing for all
the application procedures during her
final year at university but she only had
to wait four days after submitting her
materials to the consulate in Shanghai
to receive her student visa.
Consul Borgen told the Global
Times that although the number of
foreign students in Norway is growing, with a countrywide population of
only 5 million – one-fifth of Shanghai’s
population – there’s always room for
more. And as the belief in total equality is a cultural cornerstone of Norway,
students are expected to develop their
own critical thinking and work independently.
The Norwegian consulate in Shang-
(From top) Chinese students attend
a pre-departure talk about studying
in Norway. Consul of the Norwegian
Consulate General in Shanghai, Siri
Borgen, conducts the event. Oslo, the
capital of Norway Photos: Ni Dandan/
GT and CFP
hai is working closely with NorAlumni,
the Nordic Center at Fudan University
and the Norwegian Business School,
which currently has approximately 200
Chinese students enrolled in management and business programs. Borgen
reassured Chinese students that Norwegian degrees meet all European Union
standards, meaning one’s degree from
Norway is transferable and compatible
with other international degrees.
“We are trying to create that link
between Norway and China and make
more Chinese aware of what Norway
can offer them,” she said.
Page Editor:
heluyi@
globaltimes.com.cn