NHH graduates establish Norway's first alumni fund

On Tuesday 12th June, NHH received an unusual donation. A group of former students got together order to establish Norway's first alumni fund to help finance research at NHH.

18.06.2007 - Kristin Risvand Mo

Former NHH students Thorstein Selvik and Knut Espelid (in front) are among the founders of the new fund.

"NHH is competing with the best teaching institutions in Europe. This is about strengthening NHH's position in the international market", said Thorstein Selvik at the launch of the NHH Alumni Fund in Oslo today.

The initiators of the project, with Thorstein Selvik and Knut Espelid as leading members, believe that the fund will also strengthen the connection between NHH and its more than 15,000 graduates.

"Many of us have a great affection for NHH, but are not actively connected to the school. For the first time in NHH's 70 years history, graduates took the initiative to communicate with NHH in an active and explicit way. We wish to get out more of the knowledge that NHH produces and we think that the school can obtain more from us", said Selvik in front of almost 100 former students at an alumni reunion last week.

A step forward
The NHH Alumni Fund will be used in order to finance research and professional or scientific activities.

"It is very satisfying that there has been an initiative to take NHH's alumni activities a step forward", says Jan I. Haaland, rector for Norges Handelshøyskole.

"We are very grateful. The funds will contribute to strengthening NHH's academic position. We hope and believe that the funds will secure the quality of the research and increase the level of educational activities", says Haaland.

The NHH Alumni Fund is unique in the Norwegian context.

"The phenomenon is well known in other countries, but this is the first time an alumni fund is established in Norway. It is not improbable that other institutions will follow this", thinks Selvik.

Facts

• The NHH Alumni Fund was established following the initiative of a group NHH graduates.
• The donors contribute with a share of 1,500 Norwegian kroner.
• This will bring in, for the first stage, a capital stock of 3 million Norwegian crowns.