Study programmes and students

Study programs and students

Student involvement and inclusive learning environment

All students at BI should have a good and inclusive learning environment where diversity is valued. We listen to our students and actively collaborate with them. BI is committed to involving students at all levels, from institutional decision-making forums to course and class-level dialogue meetings. In all courses at each place of study, lecturers and class representatives meet halfway through the semester to evaluate the teaching. In addition, there is a programme evaluation meeting every six months between the academic leader, students and study administration to discuss the overall quality and further development of the study programme.

Student involvement is a central element in the pedagogy for BI's Executive offer. In 2022, all Executive course descriptions were updated with a text about the student's duty and rights to involvement in courses and programmes.

Regular dialogue meetings are held between our student organisation BISO, and BI leaders, as well as through the Learning Environment Committee (LMU). LMU is the formal body that oversees BI's learning environments and has an advisory role on the BI board of trustees, with the same number of employee and student representatives

Academic and social integration and development

A good environment where students are looked after both academically and socially is important. In 2022, BI organised many activities to contribute to academic and social integration and development.

Creating a sense of belonging among the students was an important focus at the start of studies in the autumn of 2022. That is why BI launched the "We got your back" campaign across all campuses. To help new students get a safe start to their studies, with a sense of cohesion and belonging, all students were invited to a gathering where academic and social integration was the main objective. In addition, representatives from BISO and employees from BI were present to talk about the opportunities at BI and answer questions from the students.

BI created a registration form on the Studentportalen where they could get help to form study groups, as part of helping the students get in touch with each other and find someone to study with. More than 200 students made use of this offer in 2022.

Coffee Hour is organised twice a week on campus Oslo, and between 500 and 700 students show up each time. Similar events are held on all campuses. The purpose is to facilitate so that students can get to know each other while getting help from BI's employees to solve academic and social challenges.

Through an academic tutoring offer, BI's talented students contribute as learning assistants and tutor other students. In 2022, 100 learning assistants did approximately 400 assignment guides in 39 courses. In addition, they were available for drop-in tutoring throughout the academic year.

BI offers extra follow-up and facilitation for students with special needs. For example, in 2022, 15 students with various disabilities and learning difficulties received personal guidance in challenging courses throughout the academic year.

In a collaborative project between the student organisation BISO and BI, the BI Student app was further developed. By downloading the app, students can join BISO, pay the membership fee and gain access to various membership benefits.

The Student Experience department delivers services and offers to BI's full-time students that will strengthen the experienced and actual work-life relevance of the studies at BI. In 2022, the students were offered courses and skills training in relevant tools to facilitate the individual student's learning and strengthen their candidate profile. The students have also been offered different learning arenas and meeting points between business and students, including through BI's internship scheme and case solutions.

Project Library 2030

The Library 2030 project started in 2021 and has continued through 2022. This renovation and upgrading project on campus Oslo will create a new, exciting, future-oriented library. In 2022, the doors will open to newly renovated areas in the entrance area, the group room department and the area that houses BI's physical book collection. The library should surprise and inspire and provide a good framework for various learning activities.

The library will become a space and a service that can change in step with new ways of obtaining information, different teaching formats and changing learning activities.

Completion rate and dropouts

BI works systematically to reduce dropout rates, ensure study progression and increase completion rates among BI students. The completion rate among undergraduates last year increased from 49.5% in 2020 to 53% in 2021. At a master's level, the completion increased from 82% in 2021 to 84% in 2022. The completion rate for PhD after six years was lower in 2022 compared to 2021, 45.5% in 2022 from 50% in 2021. Here it is important to note that the data on which these figures are based is limited and that small changes have a major impact.

In 2022, 4210 degrees were completed (not standardised time, but all who graduated).

Over time, BI has prioritised efforts to reduce dropout rates among existing students. We do this by digitising dropout data and using this to take accurate and preventive measures against students who risk falling out of studies. Examples include increasing low activity in its learning, reminders around work requirement submissions, and students' options if they fail exams. Other measures include sending information to all our students via SMS and e-mail with practical information, invitations to activities and calling at-risk students.

Perhaps the most important challenge here is the dropout rate among undergraduate students in their first year. In 2022, we were satisfied that the dropout rate among this group has remained relatively low at 12%, an increase of 1% compared to the previous year. We emphasise that dropouts are defined in different ways. In this context, we are talking about students who drop out due to progression requirements set by BI (progression-related definition).