Beathe ?g?rd became engaged with international affairs and politics from a young age. During high school, she was first involved with organizing “Operasjon dagsverk” focused on the right to education for youth in the global south, and later she became active in politics. At the age of 19, she left the safe surroundings of her west-coast island, Karm?y, and ventured across the world to Vietnam.
- After finishing high school, I went to Vietnam and then India, where I studied International Development Studies and Peace & Conflict studies. This was because I really wanted to travel, but didn't have much money right after high school. On the other hand, I was keen on studying and continue my engagement in international affairs, but didn't know exactly which program to choose. Lastly, I didn't want to commit to a full bachelor’s program at that time.
The solution was a one-year program with the possibility of spending six months in Hoi An in Vietnam and then six months in Pondicherry in India. Here, her interest in international affairs, mostly developed in her spare time while growing up, was further sharpened
- I really enjoyed studying and reading about the field! I had a natural curiosity and interest to learn more about international relations and foreign politics, but I also think some of it started from specific cases, like engaging in international solidarity work for Palestine or when the outbreak of war in Libya happened and the unfolding Arab Spring. Such events, which gained media attention and public debate at home, further sparked my interest into the field of peace and conflict and this was strengthened during my time in Asia.
After the year abroad, Beathe returned to Norway and started a bachelor’s degree in development studies at the University of Oslo.
- In my degree, I focused more on international development and political science, like elections and political structures. I think my interest in Myanmar, which I wrote both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis about, came from a trip I did between my time in Vietnam and India. This was during a period when Myanmar had very recently opened up from a military junta regime, so it was very interesting to investigate.
She explored Myanmar’s history and Norway's connection with the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi. Ongoing peace processes with Myanmar at that time also sparked her interest in the field.
Testing the diplomatic water, political engagement in SAIH and advocacy work at Save the Children
Beathe got most of her credits from her studies in Vietnam and India approved as part of the BA degree at UiO and finished in about two years. With the degree and thesis “The 2015 Elections in Myanmar: A Study of Political Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Kachin-State” completed, she sought different experiences.
- After I finished my bachelor’s, I worked at the Norwegian Embassy in Myanmar as an intern for six or seven months. This was a good way to test a potential future career in diplomacy and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Afterwards, I went to Copenhagen for another internship with UN Women at the Nordic Liaison Office in the UN City.
Returning to Oslo, Beathe decided to engage in student politics, having been involved in the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) during her bachelor’s.
- I think that was a very good entry into more practical aspects while being a student. During the bachelor years I organized many seminars and met various stakeholders from academia and civil society.
This offered Beathe practical hands-on work and helped her build friendships - connections she maintains to this day.
- I continued my work at SAIH from within the organization and ran for election as political vice president. I was elected, and later elected twice to serve as president. I worked three years full-time in SAIH, which was very fun but also exhausting in terms of workload and busy days. It was a mix of working closely with others in SAIH and representatives from the higher education sector, university boards, and member organizations like trade unions and so on.
They engaged with Norwegian politicians from parliament and government, advocating for the right to higher education and academic freedom globally, and worked closely with partners in Southern Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Having majored in political science, the foundation from this discipline was handy, like having a structural overview and general understanding of how the political system works.
- Yes, I had to utilize much of the knowledge and skills I learned in OPA (Offentlig politikk og administrasjon) about political and public administration - especially understanding the relationship between government and parliament, and the more “nitty gritty” details like how amendments are made to the state budget, doc.8-proposals, and similar matters.
- I guess OPA is maybe the most useful political science subdiscipline directly related to working in SAIH with “Norwegian matters”. I did however apply what I learned in other courses in political science and development studies - including issues like capacity building and working with grassroots-led movements, empowerment, and representation.
After three years at SAIH, Beathe was asked to join Save the Children Norway, first in a temporary position and then permanently
- I worked in the international policy section as a senior advocacy advisor, engaging in international development and humanitarian affairs. I then shifted more towards peace and conflict, focusing on education in crisis and conflict. For instance, I worked on the Safe Schools Declaration, an initiative launched by Norway and Argentina to prevent attacks on schools and universities during war and conflict.
Beathe describes her job at Save the Children as "a typical office job" with numerous meetings and report writing.
- It involved many meetings, both internally and with international colleagues, and a lot of writing. I co-authored a report with a colleague on Norwegian arms trade and export control, advocating for stricter arms control regarding Norwegian exports to specific countries in the Saudi coalition involved in the war in Yemen. We also pushed for stricter end-user license controls for weapons sold to NATO allies amongst other issues.
Save the Children Norway is part of Save the Children International, so the work involved collaborating on campaigns and advocacy with colleagues worldwide. She also arranged a lot of external meetings with stakeholders like other civil society organizations in Norway and engaged in political lobbying to influence the Norwegian government, for instance at the United Nations General Assembly or through a field visit to Ethiopia with the Norwegian minister of international development.
Returning to Academia with PECOS
From completing her bachelor’s in 2015, Beathe spent several years deciding whether to pursue a master’s degree. When she finally decided, she chose Peace and Conflict Studies at UiO
- After working at Save the Children, I considered a master’s degree to re-engage with academia. My main motivation was to have time to read and delve into substantial topics. After several years working, I missed engaging in deep theoretical discussions and learning more about specific country situations, which you seldom have time for whilst working and getting caught with meetings and daily tasks.
Beathe also admits that she considered writing a MA thesis both smart and somewhat necessary for her future career purposes and advantages.
- I could probably have continued working at Save the Children or someplace similar without the MA degree, but it’s a fact that more senior positions require a master’s degree.
Beathe explored different master’s options and returned to UiO for the Peace and Conflicts program. Starting during the pandemic, she balanced full-time work and studies, finding a new experience despite familiar settings.
- The hybrid, digital, and in-person formats during the pandemic were convenient for me. I was fortunate to have a supportive boss at Save the Children, allowing me to prioritize lectures and manage my workload.
- We were a mix of international and Norwegian students - a very good group I would say. We got to know each other within a short time span and we, as PECOS is known for, had a lot of social events throughout the two years. PECOS provided the depth I had sought for in addition to a very inclusive environment which was great.
Beathe, who felt she had already done the student experience during her bachelor and was working fulltime, felt that this inclusiveness was important for feeling as part of the group, as she didn’t have that much time to engage in a lot of extracurricular activities this time around.
- It was great coming back to Blindern! I liked the flexibility in the program - to pick and choose after my own interests and to study alongside a very closeknit group who was extremely interested and engaged in the field of peace and conflict and political science. I have so many good memories from the time at PECOS!
- I really enjoyed the international negotiations course and also the simulation exercise – in general it was very useful having those types of practical exercises. It could have been even more! They do that to some degree but could also take more advantage of all the peace research communities in Oslo and all the expertise that's there, Beathe states.
For her master’s thesis she once again dove into matters of Myanmar, and in her thesis “The Spring Revolution in Myanmar – Resisting a Closed Autocracy. A qualitative case study of the civil resistance movement in Myanmar after the 2021 coup” she addressed the case of long-lived civil resistance in the closed autocracy of Myanmar. Her analysis is based on a theoretical framework of civil resistance and social movement studies, and data collected from 46 semi-structured interviews from fieldwork in Northern Thailand.
A New Dive into Diplomacy: Becoming a Trainee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
With her MA degree completed, Beathe revisited her interest in diplomacy and applied for the MFA trainee program. Upon acceptance, the program involved two years in Norway, followed by an expectation to go abroad for approximately six years before returning.
As part of the application process, potential trainees are thoroughly evaluated to ensure they understand the implications of a diplomatic career - both professionally and personally.
- A career in the MFA is a lifestyle. It requires full engagement and possibly relocating, with considerations for family and partners. However, it offers an opportunity to stay connected with Norway while gaining international experience. For me it was very appealing to work abroad with the ministry rather than going out and working for an international NGO because I really wanted to stay in touch and have a base in Norway.
- It’s nice to know that I could come back to the ministry afterwards where there's a lot of opportunities to change around and work across different thematic fields. I would still have the same employer but wouldn’t have to apply new jobs all the time, other than internally off course, she smiles.
After a having made the highly selective cut, Beathe started in the ministry in the autumn of 2023 – approximately three weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel.
- I was immediately, together with other MFA trainees, called to work in the crisis center, so it was very hands-on from the beginning. I was also very much directly thrown into peace and conflict related issues. Being part of the political analysis team, understanding what's happening on the ground but also a lot of consular work in assisting Norwegian citizens.
Beathe describes the very “in medias res” start as interesting and demanding but all in all a good experience. After this she’s been working in different sections at the ministry.
- Initially, I focused on international development and humanitarian affairs, working in the ministry’s Sustainable Development Department. I then spent six months on the “aspirantkurs”, a course tailored for MFA trainees, learning about Norway’s global role and interests, and how to engage with key stakeholders from business and different departments, ahead of my international postings.
Now, Beathe works as an advisor in the Peace and Reconciliation section, currently engaged in preparing a government “White paper” ahead of the upcoming elections.
- This involves extensive consultations and examining peace processes that Norway has diplomatically engaged with from the 1990s to today. We assess results, methods, and how Norway compares with other countries like Switzerland and Qatar. Understanding past involvement in cases such as the Oslo processes, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan is crucial, especially with today’s increased conflict levels and bigger demand for negotiated solutions which can bring sustainable and long-lasting peace.
- In doing this I have utilize what we learned at PECOS and really try to understand how the overall situation is today related to Norway’s role. For instance, issues such as sustainability of ceasefires and peace agreements, the importance of local ownership from affected parties, understanding grievances, and addressing root causes for conflicts are still very relevant in what I'm doing today.
In preparing and writing the White paper Beathe use both her theoretical, methodical and analytical skills, and in some ways the work resembles writing a master’s thesis.
- Absolutely, I think with regards to the length and the scope it’s similar, but the project is more set in terms of design and strict deadlines, and of course I couldn’t choose the topic myself – this was ordered by the Norwegian parliament.
One of the skills most ISV Alumni really feel like they have gotten both from bachelor's and master's is good training in 1) writing different types of text, 2) taking in a lot of information and 3) presenting the essentials in a systematic way to others.
- Yes, I agree. I’ve written so many essays, term paper etc. and in addition to being a good writer, we also gain the skills of being able to process a lot of information, sorting out the most important and then making it concrete and understandable to others. This will come in handy when I start my first period “out” this fall (2025) – in Jakarta in Indonesia I will be doing a lot of political reporting, writing and meeting different stakeholders.
Beathe anticipates her first diplomatic posting in Indonesia, connecting her academic background and offering new challenges in a region with significant geopolitical interest.
- In Indonesia, I’ll utilize my communications skills, political reporting, and engage with various stakeholders. It's very exciting. My portfolio at the embassy will likely be focused on ASEAN, economic affairs, regional issues including Indonesia’s relationship to other countries in the region, and I’ll be responsible for following Timor-Leste. I’ll likely also be able to continue to work on issues related to peace and conflict resolution, especially considering the country's large Muslim population and engagement in regions like the Middle East, Gaza, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
In sum, Beathe’s journey continues to promise exciting developments as she leverages her diverse experience and competence in diplomacy and international affairs.
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS:
- Don’t stress too much with getting the “perfect” job as soon as you graduate. The path becomes clear once you start walking, and it’s good to stay curious and open-minded. Personally, I didn’t have a clear vision of where I would end up, besides that I wanted to continue to work within international affairs and with issues that engaged me.
- I highly recommend engaging in student politics as this provides a lot of opportunities and practical experience. Off course I have to recommend SAIH in particular, as I would love to see more students engage and continue the legacy and important work of SAIH since Norwegian students and academics engaged in the anti-apartheid movement in South-Africa since the 60s.
Beathe ?g?rd
Study program: Master i Peace and conflict studies
Graduated: 2023
Job title: Aspirant/Trainee
Employer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs