The number of Norwegian students in the United States are steadily increasing, currently around 2,000, including exchange students. The Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA) organize events and seminars, while being a go-to organization for all Norwegian students in the country.
After an immensely successful Career Day in New York City this spring, ANSA looked to Houston and Norway House as an ideal venue for their next Career Day, this time paired with the organizations own Fall Seminar. Roughly 75 ANSA members had flown in from all over the United States and Canada to take part in the Seminar, while the ANSA President herself had made the trip all the way from Norway.
The Career Day on Friday October 21st consisted of presentations from companies such as Statoil and DNV, as well as plenty of networking time afterwards. Consul General Mykletun, Anne-Brith Berge from the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Houston, and Eric Namtvedt from Innovation Norway held opening remarks, giving the students and the business representatives a thorough introduction on Norway House and its purpose.
Dinner reception with the Minister
The following evening the ANSA students were invited to a dinner reception at the Consul General’s estate, with a unique opportunity to meet the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Tora Aasland.
Minister Aasland had stopped by Texas on her way to Science Week in California to meet the ANSA students and explore the opportunity for increased bilateral educational collaboration between Norway and the United States.
Saturday October 22nd, ANSA held their Fall Seminar, also at Norway House. The cause of the Fall Seminar was leadership training for new ANSA members, and internal briefings on the work ANSA is doing in North America.