Can you tell me a bit about yourself and the courses you are teaching?
I'm a professor of international economics, and I teach third year. International economics and international finance. And it's an exciting time to be teaching it because there is a lot of confusion. In in a way, some things have become more difficult, like the exchange with Russia is much more difficult than before. We used to have students from that country, but not now. We also don’t have Chinese students anymore. There are realignments not only in the old sector, but all sorts of lines are changing. There are new alliances. You know, all my life, things were expanding: globalization, tourism, going to foreign countries was good and desirable. And now it seems like the world is contracting and splitting up in different blocks. And I try to convey that in the course, that many things are about to change, and you do not find it in textbooks.
Meeting place and periphery
What is the best about having international students in class?
You know, we have people from many European countries, and they have different experiences. They have grown up in different environments and it adds to the classroom atmosphere. We form study groups and students get to interact with each other and explain things to each other. It's great to have people with different backgrounds in one group together. We have students from Western Europe, and we have we have students from Eastern Europe. Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Western Balkans. It's a big meeting place here. I grew up in Germany. There was the reunification of East Germany and West Germany. Which is still not one country. It's still two countries. And there are problems. So, we need meeting places, and here we offer that.
So why should exchange students come to Norway?
Because we are on the periphery of Europe, we are more concerned about diversification and being part of Europe. Many things that are taken for granted in the Central European countries, in France or Germany, are not taken for granted in Norway. We have to work harder in a way, to give more attention to things European. So, I think it is good for people from different countries to come to Norway. We are the periphery of Europe. We want to learn about conditions in different countries ourselves, and I think that is a good environment to be in when you want to advance academically. And you know Norway is a very beautiful country.
We are the periphery of Europe. We want to learn about conditions in different countries ourselves, and I think that is a good environment to be in when you want to advance academically. And you know Norway is a very beautiful country.
Advancing academically and visiting Norway
Why should students choose Østfold University College?
If I was student, I would like to come to a place like this. Academic work is taken seriously. And that's important. But getting to know the country is also taken seriously. Personally, I engage myself quite a bit early in the semester to get students on a good track. I tell students not to not to hide inside the library or inside their own room. Participate in the trip to Bergen, in the skiing events and in the trip to the cabin. But it requires that you do your work on time. And don't let things accumulate. So, I think Østfold University College gives a very good combination of both advancing your academic career and, you know, having fun on the side. And there's a lot of positive things to say, so students should come and experience themselves.
What is important to you as a teacher?
The most important thing in the beginning is to not fall behind, because it's very difficult to recover. We will help you, but we don't pressure ourselves upon you. To me it is very important that students don't feel overburdened with the courses I give, which are quite demanding. In the last two years I’ve only had one student fail International Economics. It's very important to me to give very good and detailed comments, so they feel there's actually somebody looking at the stuff carefully. I give commentary not only for things done wrong, but also things done right. It’s more work for us, but I think it's important. I really want students to do well and advance academically, see Norway, learn about the culture and make friends. These are the things you remember afterwards, not if you got an A or B.
Transition and research
What are you passionate about academically?
My research interests are migration and transition in Eastern Europe. I lived in Riga, Latvia , for eight years and taught at University of Latvia. So, I lived through a transition. It has very much affected my research insofar as I write about transition and migration in Europe. East to West migration, migration from the Western Balkans, which is a big migration route. I analyse this together with my co-author in England. Together with a co-author here in Norway at in Østfold University College, I do transition research. I think transition is very defining for the European Union. Eastern European countries are now member states, and the centre of gravity of Europe has shifted eastward, especially after England dropped out. The Western Balkan countries are slated as the next countries to come into the European Union. Slovenia has been a member for a long time and Croatia is in. Many others are candidate countries, but the people who live there aren't so sure if it’s a good idea. Russia and China have also been very active there. Serbia has been in a Russian friendship for a long time. Now they realize that their bread is buttered on the European side. Is it real or is it a tactic? So, I think migration and transition in Eastern Europe is fascinating and I feel very lucky that I was able to live there, and to have contacts there now.
We're having a bit of a crisis in Europe now and there's a lot of things realigning. And I think it's a very good time for young people to ask some very serious questions and to get politically involved. And to get involved at the University College is a good start, I think.
What are the advantages of being in a small university college?
I think it's a fantastic meeting place without too many other distractions of a big city. To my experience it’s an advantage to be at a small institution. Østfold University College has done a tremendous job in bringing forward research. I applied internally for funding, and we purchased a Balkan monitor, a big data set, and we have been working with that for quite a while. As teachers we can choose our teaching schedule. For us as academic staff, we are listened to more easily in the small institution. And that is also true for students, they're taken care of here and people have time for them. The students who are more visible as individuals and they have more input and are engaged in conversation more often with the teachers and with the International Office. I think the informality of many things is helpful. So Østfold University College has a lot to offer: research wise, for teachers, teaching opportunities. I have been able to teach in English, which is easier for me.
What would you like to say to future exchange students?
We're having a bit of a crisis in Europe now and there's a lot of things realigning. And I think it's a very good time for young people to ask some very serious questions and to get politically involved. And to get involved at the University College is a good start, I think.