Rolf Waaler (1958- 1963)
Before joining NHH at the age of fifty, Rolf Waaler had already worked for several years in the educational sector. He was originally educated as a construction engineer at NTH (– the Norwegian Technical University in Trondheim), and later became Norway’s first professor in occupational psychology and human resources management. Waaler is considered a pioneer in the establishment of management as an academic discipline in Norway. In 1952 he founded AFF (Administrativt Forsknings Fond - the Administrative Research Institute) as a separate part of the NHH dedicated to promoting leadership development. This was one of the first institutions in Europe to be established within the field of leadership development. Waaler was known to have a practical and solution-based approach to his work as rector. This approach proved to be important at a time when NHH faced great challenges in terms of a turbulent relationship with the University of Bergen and the move to a new campus at Breiviken, just north of the centre of Bergen. Waaler held several doctorates of honour and was commander of the order of St. Olav.
