This article is a summary of the paneldebate, and does not express any opinions of the writer or Unikum.
This was the topic in the panel at Arendal, with Toril Hernes from NTNU, Per Martin Norheim-Martinsen from NMBU, Rebecca Borsch from NHO, moderated by Marie Amelie from Startup Migrants at Kuben museum. Arendalsuka raised the question and the word that can summarize this conversation is: concerned. A question that was not so debatable due to the mutual consensus that this is quite not working, despite government officials stating that they are building the conditions to ensure investment capital and attracting skilled executives that can enhance and improve the status quo for the country. Norway is losing a battle here.
The dropping numbers of international top executives in the country or retaining the existing ones has been dramatically affected, as the panelists agreed. The slight increase in wealth taxes at local and state levels was not quite a good incentive. This is one of the most important issues for foreign capital, and even for Norwegian businesses and entrepreneurs who are fleeing to more benevolent countries that are eager to receive them with open arms. Another factor affecting the situation is the newly implemented tuition for international students, as it was clear in other meetings in Arendalsuka that it has come here to stay and not change. Panelists agreed that the drop in international students is striking. It shows a very clear effect of the new governmental policies. “It is worse than we thought, and it is happening very very fast” mentioned Norheim-Martinsen.
Borsch stated that the country depends heavily on foreign labor, and this implementation of tuition has just made things worse as the education system provided a platform where students could immerse into society. And eventually incorporate into businesses that need certain skills that are found abroad. She said, “The idea of Norwegians thinking they are the best country to emigrate to may be far from reality.” She mentioned there is a list of the best countries to emigrate, and surprisingly Norway was the last on the list of countries just after Germany, which was in position 49. The panorama doesn’t look very well. Although Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the conditions for foreign capital and talented professionals are not quite there. They wish the government could see the benefits of international students in the classroom, and without incentives in tuition they are competing against better-prepared institutions.
On the side, a former student of the University level commented that when she paid the tuition, she expected a similar education as other countries like the USA or UK, yet in a more beautiful setting so she decided to come to Norway. She found there was not a diverse English curriculum, most professors were good, but some had monotonous voices or lack of teaching skills, there were little or no opportunities for part-time work, social activities were only for exchange students, and easier arrival conditions. She found nature outstanding, but this was not enough, so she decided to move back to her country.
Top-skilled foreign workers, international investors, and students suffer from not only the cultural shock that pertains to any country relocation. Together comes:
- Long waits for their migratory status to be confirmed due to an overload of work for the UDi staff. Still, no solution was offered to bring the long waits to a shorter one.
- Difficulties opening a bank account so they can’t pay or receive payments. Companies have to find solutions to pay.
- High taxes
- High cost of living
- Lack of help in acquiring the Norwegian language
The panel agreed that it would be helpful for the government to reverse such policies like the wealth tax increase, and the tuition for international students and start to think of better strategies to keep and maintain top-skilled workers that could bring benefits to both the private and public sector, because they will collaborate with taxes for the country if they stay here. But if the conditions don´t improve it is most likely that they flee away. To ameliorate these decisions, Hernes mentioned that in NTNU they implemented a fund that brings some international students with a scholarship and now the dynamic in her classroom has dramatically changed.
Norwegian businesses are suffering the consequences of these policies with a crisis in their recruitment of skilled workers and founders. University recruitment has also suffered and therefore the multiple voices inside the classroom are non-existent or in small proportion. At the end, they said the panorama does not look like it will change but they were hopeful they could eventually see the impacts so the government can start taking action.
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