A culture of independence

• Name: Pauline Malaguti
• Country: France
• Age: 22
• Programme: Bachelor of Data Science for Business

Studying in Norway

What I liked about the country was that it had a modern lifestyle while still being close to nature. The study style is also interesting. The style of learning at BI is quite focused on personal work. I have fewer hours of classes at BI than at a school in France, but I have more preparation work to do. I really like this style of learning because I feel like I can go at my own pace.

My perspective on Norwegian culture

I think Norwegians are quite independent and resilient. I believe the saying “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” (There is no bad weather, only bad clothes) represents the mentality of the country quite well. This culture affects the way I perceive my studies and my effort in my work. I find that I focus more on my goals and less on the difficulties along the way.

The most important idea I learned in Norway

I really learned to be independent. Moving abroad on my own at 19 can be quite terrifying, but I was able to learn to adapt to a new culture and live alone away from my family. The culture and study style has made me more responsible and organised. My academic success depends a lot on my work and preparation, and overall I feel that my efforts pay off! I think these are skills that will always be useful to me. 

Why BI was the right choice for me

• I wanted to be academically challenged.
• I wanted to specialise in quantitative areas, and so was looking for a school where the programmes were not just focused on the traditional business aspect.
• BI allowed me to discover data science for businesses, which was a new field to me.