While others debate whether students care, 320 new NHH students spent the day wrestling with one of Norway’s most complex climate challenges.
"Should Norway cut back or phase out its oil and gas production?"
Benjamin Leonardo Salvesen (19) rocks lightly on his heels as his gaze sweeps effortlessly across the lecture hall.
It is approaching 3 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon. Only twelve hours have passed since Salvesen left a toga party in NHH’s student basement. Three hours earlier, he had been handed a challenging assignment. Behind him, a freshly made PowerPoint presentation glows on the screen. In a few moments, it will reveal his group’s proposed solution to one of the defining questions of our time.
Mentor Birte Skår, Chief Financial Officer at Norwegian Hull Club, sits ready with notebook, pen and a focused expression. Salvesen and a team of students he had never worked with before are about to present their case:
"Should Norway reduce or phase out its oil and gas production in order to lead the green transition?"
Not exactly a modest challenge for welcome week.
'You could say they throw us straight into it,' says Nora Kaldestad (21).
'This week feels like a marathon,' adds fellow group member Eskil Heien.
The consolation is that everyone faces the same challenge. And no grades are given on the fourth day of an NHH education.
In the same week that a debate erupted over allegedly disengaged students in university lecture halls across Norway, there was standing-room-only attendance in Aud Max.
A total of 320 new students attended when NHH Professor Alexander W. Cappelen invited them to a case day and the first lecture in the course Ethics, Economics and Sustainability. He was joined by NHH experts from several academic disciplines.
Equinor’s Head of Commercial for Carbon Capture and Storage, René Højklint, gave students insight into the company’s balancing act between public expectations, government policy and market demands.
Equinor’s climate-related dilemmas formed the basis of the case assignment. Following the lecture, students were divided into groups. During an intensive afternoon, they brainstormed, debated and reasoned their way through the challenge before presenting their reflections to a dedicated team of mentors. All of the mentors were NHH alumni, including Equinor’s René Højklint.
'For us, it is valuable to hear how young people perceive the company,' says Højklint.
'Our experience is that students are highly nuanced in their thinking. Their level of reflection is impressive, and they are able to view complex issues from multiple perspectives.'
Cappelen stresses that the purpose of the case day is not to perform under pressure or arrive at a single 'correct' answer. Rather, students are given an opportunity to practise structured thinking, apply academic tools, discuss ideas with others and present their reflections.
'The goal is to give students a taste of how the subjects taught at NHH can be applied in practice,' he says.
'Already in their first week, we want to show them how economic perspectives and analytical tools can help us understand some of the major challenges society faces, such as the climate crisis and the green transition. I hope they leave with a sense that the subjects they will encounter at NHH are even more exciting and relevant than they had imagined.'
The atmosphere is intense in Auditorium N. Two student groups have just presented their ideas and responded to questions from mentor Birte Skår. Now it is her turn to answer questions from an eager group curious about life after graduation.
'How can you make yourself attractive to employers? Is it a good idea to pursue a master’s degree abroad? Do you travel a lot for work?'
Skår smiles and answers. More than fifteen years after graduating from NHH herself, she finds it meaningful to return as a mentor for a day.
'What is the best advice you can give today’s students?'
'I think it has to be how important it is to build relationships. Business runs on contacts and networks. That is something worth practising already during your studies.'
Benjamin Leonardo Salvesen was among the many students who took that advice to heart. A few hours later, he was heading off to a neon-themed party to strengthen new friendships and make even more connections.
He says the case day left him wanting more.
'It was inspiring, exciting and great fun getting to know new people. At the same time, it was a little intimidating. A lot of people were really impressive,' says Salvesen.
'I felt I got a glimpse of what studying here is actually going to be like.'
