The visit included meetings at three of Texas’ four Tier One Universities, a visit to Clifton, the official Norwegian Capitol of Texas, attending a reception with 75 ANSA students and a visit to Baylor College of Medicine. The Minister was impressed by the different educational and research institutions in Texas and highlighted the many possibilities for collaboration between these and Norwegian institutions.
This is the first time that a Norwegian Minister from the Ministry of Education and Research visits Texas. Arriving the same day as 75 students from the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad, ANSA, North America, gathered at Norway House in Houston for their annual meeting and career day, the Minister attended and spoke to the students at a reception at the Consul General’s residence.
Minister Aasland, Deputy Director of the Ministry, Mr. Pål Sørgaard, and the Royal Norwegian Consulate General also visited the Norwegian Capital of Texas, Clifton. The Minister was an honored guest of the City and experienced the strong Norwegian heritage in Norse Country where 17 Norwegians settled in 1854. These settlers came to Texas on advice from the initial architect of organized Norwegian immigration to the US, Cleng Peerson. The City of Clifton is currently in the process of establishing a Cleng Peerson Cultural and Educational Center, which will present the life and culture in Norway today, as well as exploring academic and educational solutions to crucial issues affecting industry, business and contemporary culture.
Texas is home to several of the top ranked educational and research institutions in the US, and Minister Aasland had the opportunity to visit four of these institutions during her stay. These institutions differ according to their areas of research, student bodies and missions; however, they are all outstanding in their respective field of excellence.
Texas A & M, located at College Station, opened their doors for the Norwegian Delegation on Saturday 22nd and showed amongst other the University’s leading engineering facilities. The Minister also met with Norwegian students at A & M studying Marine Technology and Business.
During her visit to Rice University the Minister met the University’s provost and representatives from Rice’s focus areas, nanosciences, bio-sciences and energy, in which the University is among the leading Universities in the nation. Ways of increasing research collaboration between Rice and educational institutions in Norway with excellent performance in the same areas was discussed.
Minister Aasland at BCM, here listening to a presentation by Assitent Professor, Kjersti Aagaard. At Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) the Norwegian Delegation was briefe about the research that takes place at BCM and possibilities of increased collaboration with this institution was also discussed. BCM already has close ties to Norway through NORAD and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
The Minister’s visit to University of Houston included discussions on the University’s academic programs within energy, health and optometric. There are many opportunities for collaboration between the University of Houston and Norwegian institutions, especially with Norwegian institutions focusing on energy and health research. In addition, the University of Houston is in the forefront in optometric education, and is currently building facilities that will be among the best in the world for this faculty.
Minister Tora Aasland was impressed and inspired by the many visits in Texas, when she left Houston Monday evening 24th of October to attend Science Week in San Francisco.