Reflections from a recent graduate
Aimee Haley graduated with the 2011 class of the European Master of Higher Education (HEEM) program at the University of Oslo. Before beginning the program, Aimee worked in university administration at a distance learning department in an American university. She has a bachelor degree in sociology from Washington State University and a first master degree in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah.
Why did you choose to attend the Master programme in Higher Education at the University of Oslo?
After a year of working on a master degree in higher education leadership and policy in the USA, I knew that I wanted to work in higher education research. However, in the USA, many programs in the higher education field are practice-based and do not have a thesis option, as was the case with my program. After finishing that program and working for a couple of years in university administration, I decided that it was time to get back on track towards my goal of working in higher education research.
I stumbled upon this master program at the University of Oslo and after researching it, I knew that I would be provided with a foundation in research methods and the opportunity to finish a master thesis. Both of which were very important to me. I was also enticed by the opportunity to study under leading higher education researchers from around the world and to experience three different European higher education systems – an opportunity that could not be found in an American classroom.
What are your main research interests in higher education and why?
My main research interests lie in higher education quality assurance, institutional policies and research, organization and management, and of course, student services. When I began this program, I already had an interest in student services’ assessment, but through the coursework of the HEEM program, my interests branched out to encompass several areas related to quality and organization in higher education. My master thesis explored the relationship between quality assurance and student services at the University of Oslo and Uppsala University in Sweden, so I was able to intertwine several of my interests.
Looking back at your experiences in Oslo, what would you say were the main highlights and challenges?
For me, one highlight was learning from higher education researchers who came from within and outside of Europe. I am now knowledgeable of many systems of higher education, and I have a global understanding of the role of higher education. Additionally, my fellow classmates from the program taught me a lot about education and life in their countries. From these experiences, I now find myself thinking with a global mind set in all interactions. The biggest challenge for me was learning to eat in Oslo on a budget, and learning how to do this without eating noodles every night. Learning to read labels in “Scandinavian,” understanding the special offers, and finding a friend in the program who could tell me where certain foods were located in the supermarkets since the arrangement is considerably different from American grocery stores.
As a very recent graduate, what are your plans now?
At present, I am studying the Norwegian language at the university and working for a company part-time. I’m weighing my options between entering a professional career or research position and carefully researching my prospects. My primary goal is to find an amazing opportunity within Scandinavia, but I’m also keeping my eye out for opportunities in greater Europe and the USA. Higher education is such a large field that spans the globe!
What advice would you give to aspiring and current students of higher education as to how to accomplish future aspirations?
As any student of higher education can tell you, there are many facets within this field from which you can build a career or research interest. While it’s important to spend your time as a master student exploring all areas within higher education, it is also important to take some time and determine where you fit in within higher education and where your research and career interests lie. In my experience, those who determine their fit earlier in the game will have an advantage when selecting a thesis topic and will have a greater amount of time to network and find internships and experiences to complement their interests and fulfill future aspirations.