Nhi Le chose UiS because she wants to impact the environment positively. Her background landed her a job in Vår Energi

Some years ago, Nhi Le from Vietnam took a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting. But after over three years of working experience, she felt the urge to study again, to develop her knowledge in the field.

Here at UiS Business School, Nhi Le has economics as a major and finance as a minor to build her career path. That study path fitted her background and expectation best.

Why did you choose Stavanger and UiS Business School?

Honestly, I considered several reasons when choosing Stavanger for pursuing my higher education. First, the beauty of nature in Stavanger surprised me when I researched it online. Living here gives me more chances to travel around than in other places. I love to immerse myself in beautiful landscapes such as fjords, mountains, farmland, and sandy beaches.

Second, ever since I was a student, I would not stand for the negative impacts of economic activities on the environment. Therefore, I always desire to make the world a better place for human beings, which motivated me to continue studying and find answers to those issues. At UiS Business School, I was offered plenty of courses in socio-economics: Micro-and macroeconomics, labor economics, and particularly environmental and natural resources economics, which helped me go deeper in the field and explore the problems.

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Lastly, in addition to the Economics specialization, I had the option to pursue another minor – Finance. This study path is flexible and practical to increase my chance of getting jobs in various sectors.

Tell us more about your master thesis and what you researched?

My friend Sindre and I worked together on our master thesis project, «The Ordinary People's Preferences for Space Tourism: A Choice Experiment in Norway.» First, we investigated how much general people are willing to pay for a specific space trip. Besides that, the market shares were calculated based on the different price tags of the trip. Interestingly, we also examined the effect of the carbon footprint caused by spaceflights on people's preferences.

Ultimately, we gathered a database from 754 out of 4000 ordinary people in Norway. Descriptive statistics from a likelihood question indicate that about 48 percent of the respondents would go to space if offered the trip for free. The estimation results suggest that 1/5 of Norwegians would be willing to pay between NOK 2.42 million and NOK 4.27 million (financed with a loan over ten years at zero interest rate) for a space trip. The corresponding overall reservation price, i.e., the maximum willingness to pay, ranges from NOK 15.77 million to NOK 16.5 million. The market shares are smaller at any trip price when we include the individual's carbon footprint.

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Later this fall you start your job in Vår Energi. What does that job do?

My new job at Vår Energi is Graduate Commercial Analyst, in which I have to fulfill my duties as:

• Contributing to day-to-day work within the Commercial department
• Performing analysis of price and quantity data, input to budgets and forecasts
• Assisting in the administration of gas sales agreements and invoice-related issues
• Updating reporting systems and reports for reporting gas sales to tax authorities and European authorities
• Coordinating, performing, and verifying Due Diligence reports, credit checks, black-list checking, invoices, and internal controls

How did the master prepare you for working life?

As a student at UiS Business School, I was carefully guided by my supervisor, lecturers, and staff to choose what type of jobs I could apply for after graduation. In addition to lectures, I could participate in group work and activities at school. These helped me gain so much confidence and skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills, which allowed me to develop professionally.

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Why should others choose the same education that you took?

My studies in economics have provided me with analytical, problem-solving skills and a business-driven mindset, all of which are essential for success in the workplace. The economics major is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze historical trends, current conditions, and the allocation of scarce resources so that you can make future predictions and make informed business decisions.

Do you have any advise for new students, and those who will be students in the future?

First, you should try to be familiar with faculty, staff, and friends as they will be with you during your master's journey. Second, find a part-time job or internship position, particularly in the field, because students who work several hours per week while studying are likely to manage and spend their time more efficiently. Lastly, enjoy your time as a college student by participating in extracurricular activities such as outdoor and charity activities held by students and the school. This will enhance your engagement in student life, something you won't experience after graduation.

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