Norway and Iceland top the list over countries with the most students abroad relative to population. In 2005 there were 21 484 Norwegian students at foreign universities, and for 50 years the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA) has been helping them get there.
Perhaps you have met a couple of Norwegians at a lecture or maybe in your local town? Norwegian students have travelled abroad for centuries to complete either all or parts of their studies, and according to the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA) it is the Norwegian students and their Nordic counterparts on Iceland that are the most eager to explore the world. Before Norway got its first university in 1811, aspiring academics didn't have any other choice but to cross the boarders. However, even in 2006, Norwegian students are travelling in hoards to experience other countries and cultures.
"Young people seek out into the world to gain international experience and competence. They see the importance of knowing both languages and cultures, a trait they bring back home. But perhaps equally important is the personal growth most international students experience as a consequence of meeting new challenges they would not have accomplished at home," said the president of ANSA Rasmus Myklebust.
The organisation turns 50 years in 2006, and has in connection with the anniversary mapped out some of the trends and experiences of Norwegian students abroad. In 2005, Great Britain was the most popular destination while business administration was the most popular degree. For some however, Europe does not satisfy their adventurous spirits and an increasing number of students seek destinations farther away from home.
"I liked the feeling of being able to take care of myself in a country as big as China. The experience of getting to know students from every corner of the globe is of course also one of the best things about studying abroad," explains a Norwegian student at Ocean University of China in the book "ANSA 1956-2006".
Women represent the majority of Norwegian students abroad. This has been the case since the school year 1994/1995, and in 2005 the percentage of female percentage of students completing their entire degree abroad was 57 percent. However, irrespective of gender, Norwegian students abroad are bound to experience an eclectic perception of their home country. Leading news anchor for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) Einar Lunde, studied at Concordia College in Minnesota, USA, in 1961. He was more than a little shocked when he started his studies.
"I have never quite come to terms with the common conception in the Midwest that Norway is the capital of Sweden!" writes Lunde in the ANSA anniversary book.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs