Haugesund International School is located on a 33-acre site in scenic surroundings at Torvestad on Karmøy. The school was established in 2016 by the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and the Haugalandet Business Association. The school had 18 students at the start, but today teaches 108 students from 41 different countries. is built according to the IB model (International Baccalaureate), a global school system found in 5,500 schools in 160 countries, from preschool to high school and recognized by universities worldwide.
- We have thematically based integrated learning. It's based on the idea that you learn best if different things are seen in context. With us, mathematics is not an isolated subject, but something students learn in natural connection with other subjects. The children should be able to take responsibility for their own learning, which creates interest and a better understanding of why they are learning what they are learning," says principal Julie Osteig, originally from Colorado in the USA.
The school has pupils between the ages of 6 and 16 in what they call mixed classes, where several age groups can be together, based on their academic level. If you're particularly good at mathematics, you can join the slightly older pupils.
- We have a global perspective, which provides an understanding of different cultures and other languages. English is the main language at the school, while students also learn Norwegian and Spanish," says Osteig.
In addition to plenty of classrooms, the school has a gymnasium, technology room, science lab, school kitchen and library, as well as a cultural center, sports hall and beautiful nature trails nearby. An additional 1,000 square meter school building will also be completed in November 2022.
Also kindergarten and high school
In addition to the primary and secondary school at Torvestad, Haugesund has both an international preschool(Haugesund International Preschool) at Kvala and the IB Diploma Program at Vardafjell upper secondary school. In this way, Haugalandet can offer a complete international education program up to university level (also in Haugesund at HVL).
- It is the industry in the region that creates the need. Many of the parents need to be mobile in their jobs and often work on projects lasting one, two or three years. So it's crucial that Haugalandet can offer an international school for their children with an educational program that is compatible with what they find in many other countries and that ensures continuity in their education," says Osteig.
Contact point also for parents
There are also Norwegian children attending the school, some of them with one or both parents from abroad, and the school also serves as a useful and social link between the various parents.
- Many parents are very active in our Parent-Teacher Association. Here they can meet other adults in the same situation as themselves, and exchange experiences and get advice - and good friends. We get close to each other, and we know both students and parents well," says Osteig.
Although the students often live in different parts of the region, they get to the international school via the various school buses set up from central hubs on Haugalandet.
Important for large industrial establishments
For the type of industrial establishments that are relevant in Haugaland Business Park, this is alpha omega.
- Both national and international establishments will need to bring foreign labor and expertise to Haugalandet, and a good international education for the children who follow is crucial. When we can say that we have approved IB schools with Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, it helps to make Haugalandet attractive and relevant as a location for new large establishments," says Finn Sæther, business developer at Haugaland Næringspark.
Battery manufacturer Beyonder is planning large-scale battery production in Haugaland Næringspark, and the company already has 17 different nationalities and 70 employees.
- The vast majority have moved to Norway because of a new job with us. We will need many newcomers to the factories at Haugaland Business Park, both nationally and internationally. Being able to offer an international school for new employees when the factories are in production will be very important for us both in the battle for the good minds, but also for their well-being when they settle in Haugalandet," says Beyonder's Chief Talent Officer, Runar Austrheim.
Invest in Rogaland is Rogaland county council's new initiative to attract international establishments and investments to the county. Project manager Rita Østbø Stobbs is a former business manager at Tromsø International School, and is well aware of the importance of international education in attracting international expertise.
- Working at the international school myself, a natural part of my role was to meet international workers at an early stage of their process in considering moving to the city for a job offer. The importance of the international school became very clear because I realized that the city was missing out on important skills if the international school didn't have space available at the relevant stages," says Stobbs.