"It was like a gift from above - a scholarship made for people like me."
The year was 2007, and Bjørn Klouman Bekken was having trouble financing his second year of pursuing a master’s degree at the Harvard Kennedy School.
“It was looking quite difficult, and private loans seemed to be my only option.”
That’s when he found out about a newly established scholarship that had just been set up in his native Norway, aimed at this exact university. Although it took some convincing due to him just about to start his second year, in the end the school let his application through.
“When I got it, I was very grateful.”
Along with one other student, Ole Wetlesen Borge, Bekken would be the first beneficiary of Kistefos Public Service Fellowship Fund - a pioneering effort by Kistefos AS and its owner Christen Sveaas.
Originally, the motivation was to allow outstanding Norwegian students the chance to attend one of the world’s leading universities, where Sveaas is a member of the Dean’s Council.
That goal remains, but more have been added. Since establishing their first scholarship back in 2006, Kistefos and Sveaas have kept a high pace, setting up new scholarships and creating opportunities for both Norwegian, South African, Liberian and Ethiopian students.
Along with the Harvard Kennedy School, Kistefos is now supporting students at IE University, St. Gallen, Stellenbosch University and Rhodes University.
An important aspect of the initial scholarship efforts was Sveaas' wish to further the quality and efficiency of public management. For that reason, recipients like Bjørn Klouman Bekken have had to commit to working for at least three years in the nation's public sector after graduation.
"Working in the public sector has its ups and downs," Bekken says, “but the amount of interesting tasks is the biggest upside.”
He’s opted to stay in public service far longer than his three year commitment - he's been with Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over a decade. Why?
“It’s allowed me to work on some of the greatest challenges of our time.”
That’s no understatement. During his career, Bekken has represented Norway in the UN and been stationed as a diplomat in places like Kabul, New York and Tel Aviv, where he was Norway's acting Ambassador to Israel for more than half a year.
Of his time at Harvard, he says it sharpened him up for the task.
“I loved my time there. It’s a practical, policy-focused education - like an MBA for public service. We don’t really have that type of school in Norway.”
He was also drilled in the art of writing short, concise texts about big, complex topics. This later came in handy when working as a speech writer for the foreign minister.
“I didn’t really know it at the time, but that was one of the most important things I learned.”
One scholarship goes a long way. And although Bekken was the first recipient, he would not be the last. Recent years have seen Kistefos and Christen Sveaas expanding their original mission, and to date, 47 Harvard fellows have received support from the public service funds.
In 2018, a $4 million gift from Kistefos enabled the creation of the Fisher-Kistefos Norwegian Public Service Graduate Fellowship Endowment Fund, ensuring that the support for Norwegian students attending Harvard Kennedy School can continue indefinitely.
Similarly, in 2015 Kistefos committed $11 million USD to establish the Kistefos African Public Service Graduate Fellowship Fund. The returns of this fund will go towards a perpetual scholarship effort for African students seeking to attend Harvard Kennedy School.
"Education is key for running good governments," said Sveaas.
"And I would like to give others the opportunity to get a better education to run public services. It doesn't always seem that democracies work as they should, and I hope my small contribution can help educate the next generation of African leaders."
The international aspect of Harvard Kennedy School is one that was keenly felt by Bekken during his time there.
“I made friends with people from France, the US, Albania, Argentina, South Sudan, all over. Beyond the purely academic, you learn just as much from your fellow students. And the friendships stay with you for decades after you graduate.”
During his studies, Bekken also got to assist John Ruggie, a much-revered professor of International Affairs who had been one of Kofi Annan’s closest advisors during his time as UN Secretary-General. The proximity to that level of experience was a big draw for the Norwegian, who had been interested in international politics from an early age.
“At Harvard Kennedy School, you’re studying under star academics with a deep understanding of practical politics. They’ll often have worked at high levels of the US government, the World Bank or the UN, so they know how these big systems work.”
For Kistefos, Harvard Kennedy School has not been the only focus. 2016 saw the creation of what is perhaps Sveaas' most personal scholarship yet, the Kistefos St. Gallen Masterclass Scholarship.
It is aimed at students wishing to pursue a master's degree at Sveaas' own alma mater, Universität St. Gallen (HSG) in Switzerland, where he became a civil economist.
"The scholarship scheme expresses my gratitude for education and experiences at the traditional HSG," Christen Sveeas said at the time.
His hope was that more Norwegian students would explore the opportunities that HSG has to offer, and so far, 24 students have received the fellowship.
Kistefos entered into a collaboration with the Small Projects Foundation in South Africa in 2017. Through the Opportunity Bursary Fund Programme, 25 local students on the Eastern Cape have been given the opportunity to attend Rhodes University and Stellenbosch University.
This project – still ongoing – is part of a larger effort by Kistefos and Christen Sveaas to improve all levels of education and battling HIV and AIDS on the Eastern Cape.
And in 2019, Kistefos announced yet another scholarship – the Kistefos Young Talented Leader Scholarships Program. This two million euro effort will enable future entrepreneurs and innovators from Norway, but also South Africa, Liberia and Ethiopia, to attend the high-ranking IE University in Spain.
"In the coming years, no other region in the world will have such high demand for management education which will drive sustained economic growth and innovation," Christen Sveeas said of his continued focus on African development.
This is echoed by Bekken, who partly grew up in Eswatini and Tanzania.
“My impression is that education efforts in the region have often been directed between primary school and high school, whereas higher education has not received the same attention from benefactors,” he says.
“There is a pressing need for higher education in pretty much every sector. So, Sveaas’ willingness to help talented young Africans is excellent.”