Alexander W. Cappelen Receives Inspirational Teaching Award
Every time Alexander W. Cappelen walks into a lecture hall, he carries with him a lesson from the theatre.
"A good lecture has much in common with a good piece of theatre. It needs an opening that sparks interest, a clear direction, a few surprises along the way, and ideally a moment when the audience sees something in a new light.”
This approach to teaching has earned the FAIR researcher and Professor of Economics NHH’s Inspirational Teaching Award 2026, which recognises educators who create enthusiasm, curiosity, and meaningful engagement among students.
The award was presented during NHH’s graduation ceremony in Grieghallen and includes a prize of NOK 250,000, donated by Isabella and Henrik Müller-Hansen.
Capturing the Room
For Cappelen, teaching has never been simply about explaining models or presenting results. It is about helping students see why economics matters.
“I place great emphasis on ensuring that students feel what they learn helps them answer important questions,” he says. “In economics, it is easy to focus so much on mathematical models that we forget the subject is about understanding human behaviour and how best to organise society.”
The connection to theatre is not accidental. Coming from a theatre family, Cappelen often finds himself thinking about the lecture hall as a stage—not because teaching is a performance in the superficial sense, but because communication requires attention to rhythm, energy, and audience engagement.
“When I stand in front of an audience, I often think of myself as an actor on a theatre stage,” he says. “That does not mean I am playing a role in the sense of being inauthentic, but that I am conscious of energy, timing, dramaturgy, and connecting with the audience.”
Bringing Students Into the Conversation
Over time, this perspective has shaped the way he teaches. Rather than viewing students as passive listeners, he increasingly seeks to involve them directly in the learning process.
“I have increasingly tried to move away from the lecture as a pure monologue,” he says. “I want to bring students onto the stage, so that they can take a position, discuss, make choices in experiments, and use theories to think through concrete problems.”
The recognition adds to a long record of appreciation from students. Cappelen has previously received Bronsesvampen, NHH’s student-voted teaching award, five times.
Asked what advice he would offer other lecturers, he returns to a principle that is both simple and demanding.
“I believe the key is to be genuinely engaged in what you are lecturing about. Students can tell whether the lecturer truly finds the material important and exciting.”
And, he adds:
“You should also dare to show your own enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is contagious, especially when it is paired with clear academic substance.”
Congratulations to Alexander on this well-deserved recognition.