50 per cent increase in entrepreneurship students at BI

BI Norwegian School of Management has seen a substantial increase in the number of entrepreneurship students.

“There is an increasing need for innovation. More and more companies have to base their competitiveness on their ability to be the first with new products and solutions,” BI President Tom Colbjørnsen (photo) says. He sees no contradiction in being both an innovator and formally trained.

“The advantage of the entrepreneurship programmes is that students learn about the economic system they are about to enter. The future entrepreneurs gain insight into economics and other aspects they need to master in order for good ideas to become viable,” Colbjørnsen says.

Last year, 33 students participated in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Master programme, while 50 are starting this year – an increase of 51.5 percent. The Entrepreneurship Bachelor programme had a solid increase of 48 per cent – from 52 students last year to 77 students this year.

“The increased focus and interest in entrepreneurship in higher education is a very positive development. In addition to creating valuable new expertise, it contributes to developing positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship,” says Gunn Ovesen, managing director of Innovation Norway.

Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway recently carried out a survey among students regarding their view and attitudes towards entrepreneurship.

“The survey showed that about half the respondents wanted to start their own business. About twice as many of the students who had attended entrepreneurship classes and education had specific plans to start their own business, compared to students in general,” Ovesen says.

Source: BI Norwegian School of Management