Denmark makes a turn for the elite
Will it be possible to stop the escape of talents and attract foreign manpower to the country with elite universities? The Danish hope so.
A survey carried out by the World Bank October this year indicates that Norway is experiencing annual influx of well-educated manpower of 0.6 per cent. Pål Schøne, researcher with the Institute for social research (ISF), feels that the findings indicate that Norway is not particularly well off when it comes to attracting well-educated manpower from abroad. Also Denmark is experiencing a low attraction rate. As a result, the Danish government has now come up with a possible solution to the problem. Schøne thinks that Norwegians should look to Denmark.
– International reports have indicated that Norwegian universities do not distinguish themselves very positively from the crowd. If authorities believe it is important to recruit highly-qualified manpower from abroad, one solution may be to try out elite education. However, you would need to be willing to meet their requirements as to salary and working terms so that they will choose to stay in the country, he says.
Unsuccessful
Marianne Nordli Hansen, Professor of Sociology at UiO, has, however, no faith in bringing Danish elitist thinking to Norway.
– If the objective is to attract highly-qualified foreigners to Norway, I think it is better to stimulate this in the employment market rather than changing the educational system, she says.
Nordli Hansen thinks Norwegian universities should rather focus on improving current procedures.
Professional arrogance
Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Professor of Social Anthropology, is under the impression that UiO can learn from Denmark’s commitment to recruit well-educated manpower from abroad.
There is a tendency of everyone getting an equal chance in Norway. People are not willing to entertain the notion that somebody might be better than others. Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Professor of Social Anthropology
– There is a tendency of everyone getting an equal chance in Norway. People are not willing to entertain the notion that somebody might be better than others, he says.
Hylland Eriksen thinks that more effort should be put into professional areas where UiO makes an international difference because this will give UiO more professional confidence.
– Many gifted students escape abroad, just like the best footballers do. In order to attract more students, UiO needs to show more professional arrogance. We do not believe that we have the ability to assert ourselves internationally, he says.
