“I had the privilege of spending the last three months in Bergen, Norway, participating in the Utforsk exchange program between the GSTM and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). It has been an incredible journey working in an exciting start-up environment while immersing myself in the culture. Attending lectures/seminars on entrepreneurship, institutional trust, and clusters provided additional context to the Norwegian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Working in a new technology start-up has given me hands-on experience on what it takes to build a successful company. Through networking with investors, other founders and important players from industry and government I have gained insight into the relationships necessary to establish a new brand or business venture. Along with learning plenty of new skills, I was also able to apply many of the tools and concepts covered in the Technology and Innovation Management program in a practical setting. The interaction between theory and practical learning within a different cultural context was enriched by guided reflective sessions to comprehend the impact of our experiences.

Experiencing Norwegian culture by participating in Bergen’s parade for Constitution Day, trying whale and reindeer meat and exploring Norway’s jaw-dropping nature of fjords and mountains has been a dream come true. A personal highlight was completing Bergen’s 7 mountain tour - climbing all of the mountains surrounding the city in a single day!

A huge thank you to Professors Elma van der Lingen and Inger Beate Pettersen along with the GSTM and HVL for making this exchange possible - I will forever be grateful for this incredible experience of personal and professional growth and will cherish the memories and connections made for years to come.”

Danielle Boer

More about the GSTM partnerships and collaboration: https://www.up.ac.za/.../partnerships-and-collaboration