Even though 47% of students work part–time, working an average of 12 hours per week, they only study one hour less per week than their non–working counterparts. These results from the recent report from NIFU, the Norwegian Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education, seem to indicate that there is something to be said for part–time work for students. Elisabeth Hovdhaugen of NIFU argues that in addition to the financial incentive, part–time work may even help students structure their time.

Bus Companies File Complaint

Every year the Norwegian government pays the Norwegian National Railway, NSB, NOK 30–40 million in order to subsidize the student rail discount. Norwegian long–distance bus companies have now written to the Norwegian Competition Authority to complain that the state–funded student discounts give the railway an unfair advantage over the bus companies. Although they provide the same services as the railway, they argue, they do not receive any subsidies. Political Adviser in the Transport Ministry Alfred Bjørlo points out that the railway has not traditionally been a wholly commercial venture, as the bus companies are.