Internationalisation? Yes, please!

ISU Norway gathers in Tromsø to discuss better integration of international students in the Norwegian society as well as better integration of Norwegian students in activities organised by international students.

ISU Tromsø's board members Glennda Villaflor (Vice President) and Marius E. Greger (Public Relations Officer) at last weekend's Leadership Meeting of ISU Norway. (Bilder tatt av: Ashish Singh)

Last weekend, UiT hosted around 25 more international students than usual. Leaders of the International Students’ Union’s (ISU) local branches from all over Norway visited ISU’s northernmost branch to face challenges of a student organisation and learn about strategies of gaining political weight, fund raising and inclusion, which means the integration of a person in a totally different society.

ISU – not only for international students

ISU tries to achieve inclusion through projects that focus on diversity, attitudes and participation in the local community, says Glennda Villaflor, Vice President of ISU Tromsø. It is important that Norwegians contribute to such projects. Marius Greger shares that opinion. He is part of ISU Tromsø’s board since he has started studying at UiT last autumn and only one out of many Norwegians who is actively engaged in a ISU branch. ISU Tromsø is offering more and more events and fortunately attracts more and more students both international and Norwegian, tells Marius. Also, ISU Tromsø commits itself to close cooperation not only with the international office but with the student parliament and Norwegian student organisations.

UiT’s internationalisation goals in numbers

In the opening speech of this meeting, Curt Rice, Pro-Rector for Research and Development at UiT, states that the desired part of international students at UiT is 15%. He would also like to see every second Norwegian student going abroad for at least one semester. To achieve the goal of incoming students, the international office puts a huge amount of energy in an introductory programme. According to Millicent Adubofour, former international cordinator in UiT’s student board and now staffmember of the international office, it’s the best introductory programme in Norway.