The students are my biggest motivation.
Karin S. Thorburn
`Sets the standard for inspirational teaching´
Professor Karin Thorburn received The Inspirational Teaching Award and NOK 250,000 for her dedication to excellent teaching.
Karin S. Thorburn
Professor Karin S. Thorburn has been with NHH since 2009, after more than a decade at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She is internationally recognised for her research on takeovers, bankruptcy, restructuring, raising capital, and corporate governance. Her work is published in leading academic journals, and she is frequently cited in both Nordic and international media.
She is also an Adjunct Professor of Finance at The Wharton School, where she teaches in the MBA program.
The Inspirational Teaching Award was presented at NHH’s formal graduation ceremony for master’s students on Friday evening in a packed Grieghallen.
`I’m truly honored and touched. It means a lot that NHH recognizes the magic that can happen in the classroom — those moments when learning really comes alive´, Professor Karin S. Thorburn says.
`She is an inspiration´
The committee received nominations for as many as 42 different lecturers, and many at NHH were thus in the running for this prestigious award.
In one of the nominations, it was highlighted that Karin S. Thorburn, always puts her students’ success first. One student wrote:
`I have never had a professor so genuinely invested in my success. She is an inspiration and a person I will look up to for the rest of my life´.
Demanding and rewarding
The Inspirational Teaching Award was established through a donation of NOK 1.25 million from Isabella and Henrik Müller-Hansen. Each year, NOK 250,000 is awarded to an employee at NHH who demonstrates extraordinary commitment to teaching.
The prize recognizes enthusiasm for the subject, close interaction with students, innovative teaching methods and a clear link between theory and practice.
Previous recipients
2024: Steffen Juranek
2023: Kjetil Bjorvatn
`Genuin interest in her students´
Helge Thorbjørnsen, professor and incoming NHH rector:
`For decades, Karin has combined academic rigor, practical relevance and a genuine interest in her students’.
This year’s committee – Isabella Müller-Hansen, Mathias Weisæth, Torgeir Skipenes Titlestad, Helge Thorbjørnsen, and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Stig Tenold – sums it up like this:
`Karin Thorburn sets the standard for inspirational teaching at NHH´.
Engaging top executives and industry
Thorburn, professor at the Department of Finance and Head of Centre for Corporate Finance, is recognized for making her courses both demanding and highly rewarding for her students.
`What motivates you to put time and effort into your teaching, alongside your research?´
`The students are my biggest motivation. Their curiosity and enthusiasm give me energy and make every class feel meaningful. I never know in advance where a case discussion will go. That keeps it interesting for me too´.
At NHH, she teaches a master’s course, supervises PhD and master’s students, contributes to executive education, and is well known for involving top executives and industry leaders in her classes through her extensive professional network.
`They’re bright and engaged ´
Thorburn is described by students as inspiring, supportive and demanding in the best possible sense — a lecturer who helps students connect theory and practice. They especially highlight how she designs courses that set high expectations but give even more in return.
`What do you appreciate most about teaching NHH students?´
`They’re bright, engaged, and genuinely interested in learning. I enjoy their questions, their perspectives, and their drive to grow´, she says and adds a piece of advice:
`Choose courses that challenge you and inspire you. The most valuable learning goes far beyond the exam — it stays with you for life´.
The Inspirational Teaching Award
The prize is based on an overall assessment of teaching effort in a broad sense, but with weight on the criteria such as:
- the ability to create enthusiasm for the subject and its application in the business community and society at large
- close interaction between the students and lecturer
- lucidity, enthusiasm and good cooperation skills
- the ability to shed light on the subject from new angles
- innovation and creativeness, including the development of new courses and learning tools