At the University of Oslo (UiO), our rectorate is following the situation closely, collaborating with European and national partners. Our rector Svein St?len has written about this.
The Faculty's work on research safety
When the environment is unpredictable, we must look after our employees, students, and research. We know that some are concerned for their situation or perhaps for close relatives. Students can contact our ‘ForVei’ team (the Faculty’s counselling service for students), and employees may contact their closest leader, center management, or department management if they need support. The Faculty administration will assist if necessary. Our goal is safety, security, and a good working environment for all employees at the Faculty. To better take care of employees who are in a vulnerable situation, we are developing a system for vulnerability discussions that the Faculty's leaders can use in their dialogue with their employees.
The Faculty has, over a period, had an increased focus on research security, especially the handling of regulations that apply to export control. The letter of award from the Ministry of Education and Research to UiO and the new research report ‘Secure knowledge in an uncertain world’, Report to the Parliament 14, have clear guidelines for security and preparedness that must be followed up. We are now ensuring that the Faculty builds expertise and develops routines, where the goal is to safeguard employees and at the same time ensure that we meet the expectations of our owners. On this occasion, we are in the process of finalizing a system for the valuation of projects and appointments. We hope that this will create a predictable framework and simplify the process of assessing the projects and needs for applying for a license from the Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions (DEKSA). The assessments that the Faculty is obliged to make in employment processes are based on several criteria, where all applicants are assessed individually and cannot be excluded based on nationality alone.
Since UiO is subject to more laws than only those governing export control and which regulate our relationship with research security, our work on improved routines will be prepared with a view to several pieces of legislation, such as the Security Act. The work includes, among other things, valuations of infrastructure and research areas.
Faculty finances
The demanding financial situation will continue to affect the Faculty. This also applies to UiO and the entire Higher Education Sector. Over time, the departments have worked purposefully to achieve a balanced economy. However, we see that restructuring takes time and that we are not achieving the financial effects from the measures quickly enough. It is particularly challenging to end certain activities, which is necessary to have room to develop. Thus, the departments must work well with this.
We are a large faculty with a large economy. This gives us strength and room for action when we work well together and pull in the same direction. The Faculty has the freedom to allocate the grant from the Ministry of Education and Research and other income following the adopted framework and guidelines from UiO. However, we are obliged to ensure that we do not spend more money than these frameworks indicate. It is therefore necessary to implement some common measures that apply to all units at the Faculty. We seek to maintain the possibility of strategic prioritization to the greatest extent possible and will spread the necessary cost reduction over several area to reduce the negative effects that this will have on each area. The measures must provide cost-saving effects already from the current year, but with the possibility of adjustment in later years depending on economic development.
We have decided to keep all internally funded positions vacant for at least one year before they can be advertised. This gives the departments room for the necessary review and update of staffing plans with the possibility of reallocating existing resources. The Faculty management can, in certain cases upon application, approve appointments that are critical for teaching or statutory administration.
Towards the end of the year, we will assess the extent to which we can allocate new recruitment positions to the departments. In addition, we must reduce the Faculty's strategy and investment funds. This is yet to be finalized. However, the faculty will maintain research incentives, including the top research support when awarded SFF-VI.
Following the approval of the Department Heads' meeting, the Faculty has recently issued guidelines for externally funded buy outs and rental place costs in grant projects. Projects should initially finance all rental place costs, as well as cover indirect costs (overhead) and buy outs of working hours in the project.
The Faculty's Study Committee, STUT, has been asked to develop a policy for minimum course size at the Faculty. We are aware of the diversity of subjects and the dimensioning of the study programs, but we want a norm that encompasses the complexity of our portfolio. This will make time for other teaching and research activities.
The goal is to go through this process together, without losing quality in research and education. We must direct more of our capacity towards student recruitment and implementation, as it forms the foundation for our basic income in the future. Continuous development of the study programs and course portfolio is therefore important. Obtaining external funding must be maintained, which is why we are protecting research incentives. And we must work hard with efficient use of space, rental places, and ensuring good personnel follow-up and planning of staff.
Moving into the Life Sciences Building is approaching
The Life Sciences Building will be the most modern and high-tech research building in Norway. Progress is going according to plan, with completion in 2026. We are very much looking forward to moving in with all employees and students from three departments at the Faculty, in cohabitation with researchers from the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as Oslo University Hospital. UiO is continuously working with the Ministry of Education and Research to increase rent compensation, which is a prerequisite for moving into and living in the building.
The Faculty's unique contribution to the Life Sciences Building will be the students, and the building will provide fantastic surroundings for educating future knowledge developers and workforce in Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Biosciences. These educations are experimental, and in the Life Sciences Building, students will have access to the most advanced laboratories run by Norway's best researchers. Students will develop a unique combination of theoretical expertise and practical skills at the forefront of their field, with high relevance to working life. Through research and education of candidates in the Life Sciences Building, the Faculty will strengthen our contribution to national knowledge preparedness in important areas such as environment and climate, biodiversity, and health. We will also educate a highly attractive workforce for the business and the public sector. The Faculty and the Central Administration have initiated communication and recruitment work aimed specifically at future students.
The three departments and the Faculty Administration are now working intensively with the Property Department and the Central Administration to put in place details for space allocation and co-location, daily operations and division of responsibilities, infrastructure investments and rental places, moving processes and time planning, teaching premises and teaching planning, emptying of existing premises and much more. The departments are responsible for completing their premises for handover to the Property Department, where the Faculty Administration helps with planning and preparation.
The Faculty is arranging general meetings with students on 9 April and employees on 5 May to update and answer questions from those moving.
New Rectorate at UiO
We congratulate the newly elected rectorate, who will take office on 1 August! This means a new role as pro-rector for our vice-dean Bj?rn Jamtveit, who has significantly contributed to the Faculty's research. Following the provisions of UiO's election regulations, the faculty board will promptly consider proposals for a new vice dean for the remaining dean period based on suggestions from the dean (v-sak-rutine-prodekan-fratreden.pdf). Therefore, an extraordinary faculty board meeting is being prepared for before the summer.
Easter is soon here
We are soon entering the Easter holiday, with days off and opportunities to relax. I hope everyone takes the opportunity for a break, and I wish you nice and sunny days.
Happy Easter!
Solveig Kristensen, Dean