Visit to Fudan University by Norwegian State Secretary Karin Yrvin, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry the 21^st of September

 

State Secretary Karin Yrvin (left) and Vice President of Fudan, Ms. Xu Zheng

The BI-Fudan MBA program was receiving prominent guests Thursday morning, when Ms. Karin Yrvin, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in Norway visited Fudan University. Ms. Yrvin was together with a delegation from the Norwegian General Consulate, and was received by Fudan University’s vice president, Ms. Xu Zheng, at the School of Management.

Because of a very tight program in Shanghai, Ms. Yrvin only had one hour at Fudan University, but managed to accomplish quite a schedule. In spite of her pressed time, she had uttered a wish to visit Fudan since Fudan is the only educational institution that can show such a long and persistent cooperation with Norway though the Nordic Centre and BI Norwegian School of Management. In her meeting with Vice President Xu Zheng, she showed her appreciation over the fruitful cooperation between Norwegian institutions and Fudan University. She was also impressed by the high representation of women among students and faculty.

After the meeting with Vice President, she visited one of the BI-Fudan MBA classes that had class Thursday morning. The class that were to be lectured in Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Professor Hermann Kopp, got a 15 minutes speech by Ms. Yrvin where she talked about the focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in Norwegian politics. She specially focused on the need for innovation regarding developing and utilizing natural resources and how Norway tries to facilitate for this kind of innovation. Pointing out the large public sector and the strong social security provided for Norwegian workers as the basis for innovation, she showed how Norway tries to encourage entrepreneurs by lowering personal economic risks. Ms. Yrvin also pointed out how important it is to appreciate the diversity in the population and how women and children are encouraged to contribute also regarding innovation. The Secretary of State is in her daily work responsible for innovation, trade, shipping and research.

Later, Ms. Yrvin met 6 of the BI Bachelor students that currently are studying International Marketing in China at Fudan University for 1 year. She was impressed by the student’s initiative to go to China, and encouraged the students by emphasizing how important their competence will be for Norway in the future.

The main purpose for Yrvin’s visit to China was bilateral talks with the trade ministry in Beijing. She also attended the opening of the first full service branch of Norway’s biggest bank, DnBNOR.