ISS – 75 Years of Academic Achievement and International Good Will

Einar Vannebo & Kjetil Flatin

Time and place: – , Zoom Webinar

Why and how was the ISS established? How has the ISS developed through the decades both with a view to its student body and its course offerings? What creates the dynamism of the ISS as an academic institution?

Image of Einar Vannebo smiling with bio reading, born February 8, 1952, has his academic degrees in Scandinavian studies, English and theology from the University of Oslo (UiO) (dr.philos. 2016). He taught Norwegian language and literature at University College London (1983-86), was research fellow and taught at UiO (1986-92) before becoming Director of the ISS in December 1992, a position he held till April 2017. He then left UiO to become pastor in the Church of Norway, serving the parish of Våler in Solør, 2 hours northeast of Oslo. He has written articles on literature and also been co-editor of Norsk litterær årbok. He edited a book on the ISS for the 50th anniversary in 1996. He has also been active in the Network of European Summer Schools, a professional expert community in the European Association of International Education.

Two past ISS Directors reflect on the history and role of the ISS as a window to Norway and a window to the world for thousands of students through the decades. Examine the ISS as a forum for conveying knowledge and reflection about Norway past and present, and about international issues and challenges. Delve into the ISS as a center for learning in an international context, and a forum for creating international understanding between people from different cultures.

Image of Kjetil Flatin with bio reading, born August 18, 1940 received his academic training at the University of Oslo and University of Washington (ph.d. 1971). He has taught at the University of Chicago (1969-72) and at University of Washington (1968-69 and 1972-78), where he also served as Chair of The Department of Scandinavian Studies. He was Director of The International Summer School, University of Oslo 1978-86. In 1986 he assumed the position as CEO of the University Foundation for Student Life in Oslo. He served as Secretary General for the Norway-America Association and The Norse Federation (Norwegians World Wide) 2000-2004. He has chaired a number of academic commissions and committees evaluating higher education 1988-2007. He has written dozens of articles on literature, higher education cultural issues, and published a book on the history of Norwegian-American academic exchange in 2019.

Published May 5, 2021 12:38 AM - Last modified July 27, 2022 1:51 PM
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