Knowledge and academic values are under pressure. This poses a threat to democracy and sustainable development. The University of Oslo (UiO) is the country's leading university and its most important source of research-based knowledge. We should cherish this and be proud of it. Together, we will ensure that our knowledge is utilized and visible in public debates and among decision-makers.
UiO is, and should continue to be, a European leading university for research and education. With eight faculties, two university museums and a library, UiO has great scholarly breadth at the same time as it offers solid disciplinary depth. This is our strength and identity. We will work closely with our staff and students to ensure that UiO is characterized by outstanding research and education also in the future. This team believes strongly in collaboration and broad involvement. All measures in this platform are therefore intended to be implemented together with UiO's faculties and units.
To develop talents and create good research and education, diversity is important. Our team will work for a diverse and inclusive study and work environment for all our students and staff. Our team will strengthen cooperation between all groups of employees across the organization so that we together can realize UiO's ambitious goals.
UiO shall have a strong commitment to sustainable development in research, education and daily operations. Our team will follow up the Center for Global Sustainability, and moving into the Sustainability House in 2027 will be an important milestone in this work.
UiO will promote research and education that seeks solutions to global challenges. This will include the development of green and responsible AI for use in both research and education. We will collaborate with authorities, business, and civil society to implement knowledge-based solutions.
In a world marked by great tension, wars, and conflicts, UiO as an institution should be a clear defender of international law, human rights, and international solidarity within the framework of Norwegian foreign policy. We should have purchasing regulations that adhere to high ethical standards.
This team's initiatives and activities should support academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and university democracy.
Research
- We will promote independent and groundbreaking research that is internationally leading and contributes to solving global challenges.
- We will strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and build strong research environments that utilize the breadth and depth of subjects at UiO.
- Under our leadership, UiO will protect long-term curiosity-driven basic research while strengthening our competitiveness in areas that require the application of research based knowledge.
- We will defend academic freedom and institutional autonomy to ensure a research environment that challenges established truths and develops new knowledge.
- We will focus especially on ensuring that young researchers in permanent positions can develop their research potential during a demanding period of their careers.
- We will promote increased collaboration with the institute sector, public sector, university hospitals, and industry, and maintain close contact with authorities to solve major societal challenges and promote the cause of research.
- We shall be an important actor in the development of research policy both nationally and internationally in order to secure funding for long-term research and uphold the values of the research community in areas such as researcher evaluation, research ethics, infrastructure, and open research. In this work we will i.a. use our strategic partnerships such as The Guild.
Researcher training and early career researchers
- PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and researchers are an important part of our research strength.
- Our team will work to ensure that UiO has predictable reception routines, relevant inclusion in processes, and good follow-up for PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and researchers.
- We will strengthen the competence of supervisors, as supervisors and mentors are very important for PhD candidates and younger researchers. We will consider including more groups in mentoring schemes.
- We will ensure that PhD candidates can easily benefit from UiO's rich selection of courses.
- UiO should educate PhD candidates who can compete for jobs nationally and internationally in academia as well as contribute to industry and the public sector.
- We will ensure that all PhD candidates have a career plan and an agreement with the institute on the execution of "other career-promoting work" (formerly called duty work).
- We will work systematically on coordinating career-promoting initiatives and generic courses across UiO.
Education
- We will educate employees and citizens with high professional competence, the ability for critical thinking, and engagement with the world beyond the university.
- We will contribute to strengthening the link between research and teaching, so that students have access to the latest knowledge and learn to apply it to practical challenges.
- UiO will actively recruit students from all regions and all social classes, including in the city of Oslo.
- We will ensure that the transition from pupil to university student is as understandable and safe as possible. Many faculties have invested considerable resources in welcoming first-year students in a good and inclusive manner. We will support the faculties in this work so that we retain active students throughout their study programme.
- UiO should offer students innovative teaching methods and flexible education programs that allow for disciplinary depth and interdisciplinarity. Our team will work to break down barriers and promote learning across academic and national borders, including through continued involvement with Circle U.
- We will ensure high quality of our teacher education (“lektorprogrammet”). This is an important societal responsibility for UiO.
- Our study programmes should be relevant, making students attractive in the job market and able to respond to future challenges and needs. This includes, among other things, that students should gain knowledge of the use of artificial intelligence and other tools that shape and will shape our development.
- UiO should promote lifelong learning, and we will create a cross-faculty structure that better enables UiO to offer continuing and further education.
- We will collaborate with student organizations on all important matters and, together with students, promote demands for improved study support and more student housing. Both measures are important to strengthen full-time students.
Study environment
- We will work for a safe, inclusive, and motivating study environment that supports personal and academic growth. Our team believes that a study environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and which promotes cooperation more than competition, will best take care of the well-being and mental health of students.
- Through the student health service, we will ensure that students who need it receive prompt and professional support for their mental and physical health.
- We will contribute to good social activities for our students.
- Our team will ensure that students have influence over their student life and that their voices are heard in the development of study programmes and teaching formats.
- We will work to develop good physical and digital learning environments, providing students with the best opportunities to succeed in their studies.
Communication
- We will strengthen UiO's role as a reliable source for research communication and ensure that knowledge reaches the community through open and accessible platforms.
- The library and our museums are important communication arenas, and our team will work for their active use.
- Our team will make research accessible in a way that makes it relevant and applicable for decision-makers, businesses, and civil society.
- We shall widely communicate our research to the general public, but also target more specific groups such as children and youth.
- We will contribute to an informed societal debate by sharing knowledge, actively participating in public discourse, and encouraging dialogue between academia and the public.
- We will ensure that research results are used to meet global challenges and contribute to societal development, both nationally and internationally.
- We will have a visible presence in the city, i.a. by using Domus Bibliotheca and through collaboration with Oslo Science City.
Innovation
- We will be a driving force for innovation in research, education, and social development contributing to new solutions for today's and tomorrow's challenges.
- Through UiO’s Growth House, we will work to strengthen the innovation culture at UiO to help researchers and students develop ideas at an early stage.
- Our team will facilitate cooperation with industry, the public sector, and international partners to promote the use of knowledge from our research. We will use Oslo Science City as an important platform and ensure that our researchers are key actors in this collaborative enterprise.
- We will strengthen UiO as an arena for entrepreneurship, where students and researchers can test and develop new ideas that can lead to value creation and societal change.
- We will promote digital transformation and sustainable solutions, with technology as a central driving force for renewal and innovation.
UiO as a workplace
- We will build an inclusive and stimulating work environment where employees thrive, develop, and feel valued as part of a strong academic community.
- We will work for good collaborative interfaces between academic and administrative staff. UiO has a technical administrative staff with high competence, which is crucial for achieving our ambitions in research and education.
- We wish to develop UiO's organization while respecting the wishes of our units and avoiding unnecessary changes.
- Our team will promote diversity and equality. UiO's recruitment practices must ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.
- UiO will protect employees' right to express themselves: UiO should tolerate and promote critical expressions.
- We will work systematically to reduce temporary employment.
- We will strengthen cooperation with employee organizations and the safety representatives. Good cooperation is crucial for UiO to be a well-functioning workplace.
- Employees in all job categories should have the opportunity for professional development and adequate training when new digital tools are introduced.
- UiO should have good tools for planning and resource management.
- We will systematically work with recruitment and career development so that UiO attracts the best talents from around the world.
- We will improve the reception of our new employees to ensure their participation in further developing UiO as a leading international university.
University democracy
- We will further develop UiO as an open and democratic institution where both employees and students have real influence over important decisions.
- Our team will strengthen the collegiate governance model with a focus on broad participation and transparency in all decision-making processes.
- We will promote dialogue between management, employees, and students.
- We will be a university anchored in academic values, balancing tradition and renewal with respect for both past experiences and future needs.