Economics and Administration students Sander and Alina have both had and been student buddies. Photo: Mina K. Abrahamsen
Oslo Business School's new students feel more confident with Studievenn
Every autumn, students in the three largest study programs at Oslo Business School are offered their personal study buddy. The intention is to increase well-being and belonging and discourage dropouts.
"In the first semester, there are always many questions that you can ask your fellow student instead of wondering around", says Sander Holte.
He is in his final year studying for a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Administration at Oslo Business School. In the first year of study, he even had a student friend whom he asked about everything from where the classrooms were to how she had experienced the various subjects.
Training in starting a conversation
As a new student in a new city, he found it reassuring to have someone he could ask extracurricular questions to. That is why he registered himself as a study buddy in both the second and third year of his bachelor's studies.
"You get good training in starting a conversation and quickly getting to know others. I certainly think I can use the Studievenn experience in a work context", says Sander.
More confident students
Second-year student Alina Iqbal had Sander as a study buddy when she started her degree in Economics and Administration. This autumn she was a study buddy herself for the first time.
"I thought the scheme was good when I was a first-year student myself. That's why I thought "why not become part of it?", says Alina.
She believes that the Studievenn concept means that the new students at Oslo Business School get to know more people more quickly. In addition, they get a network across the coals.
"The Studievenn scheme quickly makes students more confident about their studies. They don't have to start their student life worrying about questions that turn out not to be really important", says Alina.
Increased well-being and belonging
University lecturer Ellen Nygard is coordinator of Studievenn, or "pot and pan", as she herself calls her role. She was the initiator of the scheme that Oslo Business School launched for the first time in autumn 2021. The inspiration came from the nursing study, which started a similar scheme, Studentmentor, the year before.
The goal is to make progress in well-being and belonging in the major studies. It should prevent dropouts due to dissatisfaction.
Ellen Nygard is coordinator of Studievenn at Oslo Business School. Photo: Mina K. Abrahamsen
Contact between students
Oslo Business School employs 12-14 study buddies every autumn. The students who are selected follow up either 30 or 60 students each for 10 and 20 hours of payment per month respectively.
The main contact between the study buddy and the individual student takes place via the telephone. Once during the semester, the study buddy is encouraged, either alone or together with another study buddy, to invite all their students to a physical meeting.
Management training
The study buddies must attend two training seminars before the scheme starts properly. There, they discuss different scenarios so that the study buddies feel confident in the role.
"We do a kind of management training. As a study buddy, you gain experience in dealing with and meeting a group of people you have not chosen yourself", says Ellen.
Every month, while the scheme is in progress, Ellen calls the study buddies to a one-hour status meeting on Zoom. Here, the study buddies exchange experiences with each other and can get advice and help.
When the study buddy period is over in December, everyone who has been a study buddy receives a certificate with Ellen as a reference. She has been called by several employers.
"The Studievenn certificate has become the "gold letter", she smiles.
More than a job
Ellen spends a lot of time coordinating Studievenn. She believes that it is a great advantage that the scheme is well established by the head of department. She also emphasizes the importance of a professional employee, such as herself, keeping hold of the scheme and being passionate about it.
"You must really like students, and you have to experience that it is something more than "just another job". It must come from within", she says.
She believes that Oslo Business School is hitting something in the era with Studievenn.
"Our students are more than academically brilliant. They are also fellow human beings and can care in a good way", says Ellen.
Do you want to know more about Studievenn?
Contact University Lecturer at Oslo Business School, Ellen Nygard (oslomet.no).
