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Came to Kongsvinger because of sustainability

Lene Granlien from Ringebu found her dream study in sustainability economics in Kongsvinger. She was excited about how nice the University College Center is, and is now embarking on what she believes is a future-oriented and exciting education.

"The study has exciting content that differs from other studies. I'm really looking forward to this. With so many nice fellow students with different experiences and backgrounds, I think there will be room for better learning and broader perspectives, says Lene Granlien."

Name:  Lena Granlien
Residence: Kongsvinger
student: The University College Center in Kongsvinger
Specialization: Sustainability economics

Green heart - Lene Granlien

She has previously taken a year of study in business administration which gave her insight into the economics subjects. Then she discovered the sustainability study that she wanted to continue with. It also suited Granlien well that the bachelor's program is collection-based this autumn, and has lectures online. This means that she can continue to work alongside her studies.

The new students who are captured by studying sustainability economics are now well underway with their studies. It is no coincidence that the University College Center established this study. The Kongsvinger region is called the green heart of Norway. The University College Center is now investing heavily in Norway's first study in sustainability economics. The first batch of future sustainability talents is now absorbing the knowledge that is important for future workplace development.

The investment in education in Kongsvinger is applauded by both the business community and students. The study in sustainability economics is underway this autumn. In addition, the region already has one of the country's first studies in digital analysis (DLBA).

Promising labor market

"This is a relevant, unique and forward-looking study offer that has been launched thanks to close collaboration between academia and business. The interest is very good among the young people, and now we are very much looking forward to the continuation and graduation of the first students, says the prime mover, general manager and driving force in the University Center in Kongsvinger.  

Sustainable development is a plan for the future, society, the planet and everyone who lives here. The goal is for us to act in a way that makes the world a better place for today's earthlings, without ruining it for those who come later. The term sustainability is used to describe social, economic, institutional and environmental aspects of society.

A web search for the word sustainability yields many hits and shows enormous interest in the area. A search of job advertisements reveals a correspondingly great need for educated young people in the area of ​​sustainability, climate and the environment. In other words, there are very good job prospects at the moment for those who focus on studying sustainability economics.

Locals and newcomers

The new study attracts young sustainable and promising citizens from different places. Some move to the Kongsvinger region, while some locals see the opportunity in studying locally.

Oliver Risberg

Oliver Risberg from Kongsvinger was tempted by a hybrid education with both economics and sustainability as ingredients.

"For me, it is great that there is now such an offer at Kongsvinger. I play ice hockey - on the team in Kongsvinger, and now fortunately I can combine studies with sport. I think it will be a pleasant student environment here, and I am looking forward to interesting subjects with good lecturers"

 

Michelle Thorsen Tungland

Michelle Thorsen Tungland comes from Sandnes and has lived in Oslo. She wants to combine this study with what she already has papers on, in order to aim for a job in the fashion industry.

"I have previously studied the fashion industry and want to be able to work with sustainability in the fashion industry. Therefore, I think that the bachelor's degree in sustainability economics is perfect for me. The study focuses, among other things, on resource utilization and the environment, which I am interested in. I think studying in Kongsvinger will be both exciting and rich. It's fun to start a completely new course in a city I've never been to before."

Newly constructed subjects

Vegard Herlyng says that there is a lack of expertise in the field in Norway. He has easily applied internationally, and received confirmation that the need is great both now and in the future. Similar studies are found only in England and France. The region supports the initiative financially and in other ways. Therefore, young people can now take a bachelor's degree in sustainability economics in Kongsvinger. And the business community can have their actual need for this knowledge covered.

Norstat has surveyed young people from 18 to 29 years of age, and found that job security, sustainability, the environment and the climate are important keywords that describe what they emphasize when applying for studies and jobs. Research, development and higher education are central to the development of a sustainable society. It is Høgskolen i Innlandet and Høgskolesenteret i Kongsvinger that collaborate on the studies, which have been started based on the business community's documented needs and demand for competence. This applies as much to the master's specialization in DLBA as to the bachelor's studies in sustainability economics. Both of these studies have very high application numbers.

"We have newly constructed subjects in addition to economic/administrative subjects, but sustainability permeates everything in the study plan. I see that we hit the market very well, says managing director Vegard Herlyng."

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General manager at the University College Center in Kongsvinger, Vegard Herlyng,
passionate about the new study in sustainability economics.

25 study places

There are 25 study places at Kongsvinger, and there is also an extension of 60 credits and a single course of 15 credits. The program is suitable for you who want broad financial-administrative knowledge with specialization in sustainability. Completed bachelor's degree in sustainability economics qualifies for admission to various master's degrees in the field of economics.

Hanne Lundberg Hogseth is project manager at the University College Center in Kongsvinger. She is clear that students with this education will gain a great advantage. She herself has completed the extension course "Ethics, social responsibility and sustainable business models". She has also worked for two years to map the market to find the right content for the sustainability studies. Then she experienced a lack of formal competence in sustainability in meetings with the companies.

"Today there are a number of studies that focus on the environmental part of sustainability, but which do not incorporate the social and economic dimension of the subject. Therefore, the demand for candidates is high. Personally, I would like to believe that you are guaranteed a job after your studies, and that the opportunities are many, says Hogseth."

As a student, you get a very specific tool to use in all types of businesses to make the industry more sustainable. It is also important that the teaching is based on Norwegian conditions that make it transferable to the business community.

Facts: Bachelor in sustainability economics
  • Bachelor in sustainability economics is a new study, which can be used in a master's degree in economics and administration, often called a master's degree in economics.
  • Bachelor in sustainability economics is suitable for anyone with an interest in economics, and who has general study qualifications.
  • The program consists of 180 credits, of which 82,5 credits include teaching sustainability and the rest economics and administration.
  • The study addresses Norwegian conditions and provides concrete knowledge of how both private and public organizations and companies can be run both sustainably and profitably.
  • Innlandet University College is a public educational institution. This means that education does not cost anything in itself. You only pay semester fees, no tuition or course fees.
  • Innlandet University College has many campuses in Innlandet county (old Hedmark and Oppland). The study is collection-based and is offered in Kongsvinger.
Text: Svein A. Halvorsen, photo: The University Center in Kongsvinger

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