The School of Business, Economics and Law 2010 ANNUAL MAGAZINE The School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Vasagatan 1, Box 600, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden, +46 (0)31-786 0000, EFMD [email protected], www.handels.gu.se 2009 Graduates – What happened next? Despite high unemployment and the financial crisis, business and economics students and law students from the School of Business, Economics and Law have had a relatively easy time entering the workforce. These are the results of the follow-up survey of the undergraduate students who graduated in 2009. In total, 472 persons were asked to participate in the study. The response rate was 70 percent. Survey reSultS 80 % of the students who graduated in 2009 had become employed within six months of having graduated. Graphic design & production: Frank & earnest 87% of the law students and 86% of the business and economics students considered Photographers: Jonatan Fernström, Jeffrey Johns/School of Business, that they had very or fairly advanced work duties in their first job after graduating. economics and law, Johan Wingborg/university of Gothenburg, robin Biddulph/School of Business, economics and law, 91 % of those who were asked felt that their work was entirely or partly related to Chris Steele, Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock, yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock, their education. James Steidl/Shutterstock, robert Paul van Beets/Shutterstock 60 % of those who were asked had obtained international experience by the time Printing: Billes tryckeri EFMD the annual report is printed on environmentally friendly paper. they completed their education. Nordic ecolabel 341 129 96 % would recommend the School of Business, economics and law to prospective Cover: 250 g MultiOffset students. Insert: 130 g MultiOffset the School the School of Business, economics and law is accredited by Cover photo: the photo was taken at the School of Business, is environmentally eQuIS - european Quality Improvement System, which is a highly economics and law in Gothenburg certified in accordance sought after stamp of quality that shows that the School's Photo by: Jeffery Johns with ISO 14001. research and education is of the highest international quality. Contents Internationalisation, collaboration and sustainable growth .....4 For me, courage is daring to fail ...............................................6 I felt truly inspired ....................................................................9 Everyone is a source of knowledge.........................................11 The years ahead will be tough ................................................12 What I'm studying is absolutely right .....................................15 A sense of pride that is contagious ........................................16 With lots of engineers, get an ethnologist .............................19 Clear as a bell for industry ......................................................20 The students inspire me .........................................................23 I want to learn without blinders .............................................24 This is what motivates me to get up in the morning ...............27 The School of Business, Economics and Law 2010 .................28 3 Internationalisation, collaboration and sustainable growth Tomorrow's labour market is an international one and the School of Business, Economics and Law aims to prepare its students in the best way possible for that reality. That is why a decision was taken in 2010 pertaining to the Programme in Business and Economics: as of 2011, students will be admitted to three plus two years of study, which is equal to 300 credits it total. tudents who are admitted are guaranteed placement in another culture and perform good deeds out in the world. one of the School’s nine master programmes, provided Changes have been made to the Programme in Business Sthat they first obtain their Bachelor of Science degree. and Economics in order to give the students a degree that is Once they have received their 2-year Master of Science competitive in the international labour market, regardless of degree, students who are interested may also obtain their whether the employer is Swedish or some other nation- (240 credits) Master of Science in Business and Economics ality. The School’s master programmes attracts students from degree (Civilekonomexamen, in Swedish). many different countries, which in itself provides valuable experience. A two-year Master of Science degree meets the Always international requirements of tomorrow's labour market and is valued The School of Business, Economics and Law has always by potential employers in many countries. Students who strived for internationalization. The School was founded are interested in working for international companies will because Gothenburg’s industrial companies, trading houses compete for jobs with newly graduated students from all and shipbrokers had pointed out the necessity of an inter- over the world. More and more of these students will have nationally focused academy and higher education for trade obtained a two-year Master of Science degree. and the legal system. Many languages were already offered in 1923, when the School was inaugurated. Internationalisa- Sustainability – a recurrent theme tion is becoming increasingly important and during 2010, Sustainable growth has been a recurrent theme during the the School has noticed an increased demand from Swedish year and it obviously also has international dimensions. In students. The master programmes offered at the School May, Björn Stigson was awarded the Assar Gabrielsson Pro- are all taught in English and in 2010 they attracted more fessorship. He is president of the World Business Council students with a Swedish undergraduate degree than ever for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), which is a global before. The Programme in Business and Economics' new organisation with more than 200 of the world’s largest com- English language track got off to a great start. With so many panies as members. Among other things, he is also an advisor students applying, the level of admission credits was very to the Chinese and German governments on sustainability high. During the year, as part of their studies, many students issues. Despite his demanding schedule, Björn Stigson has took advantage of the opportunity to obtain experience of already made a valuable contribution to the School. 4 Per Cramér, Professor of International Law and the new Dean of the School of Business, Economics and Law He has met with more than a thousand students, given The School would like to work towards making sure lectures to the School's partner companies, and inspired that the full scope of the University’s offering is utilised the School to develop structures for sustainability issues to a greater extent than it is at present. During the year, within the framework of the educational programmes. researchers and teachers at the School participated in the In October, Al Gore (former Vice President of USA creation of the Master Programme in European Studies, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize) lectured at the which is offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences. School on the topic of sustainable capitalism. His visit Employees of the School are also very much involved in was sponsored by the Second Swedish National Pen- the Master Programme in Strategic Human Resource sion Fund, which is one excellent example of the value Management and Labour Relations offered by the Faculty provided by the School's close cooperation with industry of Social Sciences and a master programme in geography and society. Another example is the School’s Visiting offered by the Faculty of Science, to name just a few. Professor Programme, which is now in its third year. This programme greatly contributes to the School's efforts to Expanded Master of Laws Programme become more international. Financing from companies remains popular that recognise the value of internationalisation has ena- The School has itself grown in recent years by admitting bled more than 20 visiting professors from 12 countries more students to the Master of Laws Programme. Expan- to work at the School for a couple of months in 2010. sion of the programme was completed in conjunction They have provided inspiration and reinforcement in the with the 2010 admission of students. The level of admis- areas of research, education and cooperation with industry. sion credits and number of applicants to the programme remains high. From a national perspective, the School’s Award-winning collaboration with industry Master of Laws Programme distinguishes itself through The School has continual dialogue and many forms of its award-winning and progressive pedagogics, which, among everyday contact with its partner companies, of which others, includes close cooperation with practitioners. several also made a very concrete contribution in 2010 by A new management team also took over at the School providing co-financing for an application to VINNOVA. of Business, Economics and Law during the autumn. As a result of this, the School will conduct even more Per Cramér, Professor of International Law and former research into financial markets, thanks to several million Vice-Dean, is now the School's Dean. Olof Johansson- SEK in funding from VINNOVA. Several external part- Stenman, Professor of Economics and Mette Sandoff, ners are also involved with the School’s special initiative Associate Professor of Business Administration are the on the subject