An aerial photo of NHH. Photo Varde Solutions.

Flying start for Seafood MBA

A distance-learning MBA in Seafood, which is being offered by the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Bergen has been very well received since it was launched in October.

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NHH Professor Linda Nøstbakken is the course director for the Seafood MBA, which began in October 2016. Photo NHH.

“Videos and other online teaching materials are replacing a lot of the time traditionally used for lectures,” Linda Nøstbakken, head of the programme, told kyst.no.

Professor Nøstbakken says the programme is conducted largely via the Internet and explains that it covers the key issues that leaders in seafood industries often encounter.

“Since October, students have been working individually and in groups from home. The first meeting will be in late January when we will all spend five days together at NHH, which we are looking forward to,” Nøstbakken tells kyst.no.

The programme is aimed at potential participants from around the world. This year's course has 24 participants from nine different countries. They have a number of different scientific backgrounds – from fishing, aquaculture and the service industry.

“It’s a very wide group and we look forward to interesting and educational discussions in the classroom in a few weeks,” says Nøstbakken.

The professor believes that the course benefits from being based in Bergen, due to the city’s excellent seafood connections.

“We have received a very good response to the programme so far. Bergen has always been an important city for the seafood industry. With the strong growth in the farming industry and the fact that several of the largest farming companies are headquartered right here, Bergen's position has been further strengthened. An international executive MBA program focused on the seafood industry was therefore logical and the idea has been met with great enthusiasm from all quarters, for which we are very grateful,” Nøstbakken reflects.

The course began last autumn, and is mainly done over the internet. Photo NHH.

The most important thing, she believes, is that students who take the programme are satisfied and gain a lot of relevant knowledge that can benefit the companies they work for.

Key partnership

“Our partnership with the NCE Seafood Innovation Cluster has worked very well and been very valuable. The reason why we now offer an executive MBA programme focused on the seafood industry is that the cluster approached us to put it in place,” she says.

“Since then, they've helped support the programme development and they have been giving feedback to our plans. They have also been important for the promotion of the programme and have been in contact with the industry. I do not think we would have established the programme this without the support of Tanja Hoel and Seafood Cluster,” she adds.

The next students will begin in autumn 2018. For more information click here.