Opening speech - International summer school 2014
Excellencies, deputy minister, students, faculty and staff of the International Summer School, ladies and gentlemen.
Dear international students. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the University of Oslo. We are proud that you have chosen to spend six weeks in our city this summer. You - the 583 new students – represent 86 different countries. Literally, the International Summer School is where the world meets.
Indeed, the world should meet much more often than it does today. The exchange of ideas, the fostering of understanding across geographical and cultural divides is of the essence. We are living in a time rife with conflicts and oppression. We are living in a time when the greatest challenges are those that affect us all. More than ever are our destinies intertwined. More than ever do we need knowledge and awareness of the threats and opportunities that lie ahead of us.