The matter in summary: Østfold University College has decided to cut 14 courses in order to save NOK 60 million in 2025. Between 50 and 60 positions are being cut, which corresponds to around 10 percent of the full-time employees at the college. Østfold University College is one of several schools that must save money, and spent NOK 33 million over budget in 2024. The school has 7,500 students spread over 100 studies in Halden and Fredrikstad, and has already introduced cost-saving measures such as hiring freezes. Among the studies that are being cut are the Academy for the Performing Arts, Bachelor paramedicine part-time, Master kindergarten pedagogy and early childhood science, Master Norwegian in school, Master mathematics didactics and several year-long studies. There is concern that the closure of the creative lines at Østfold University College will affect a joint doctoral program in artistic development work from 2025. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Today, the board at Østfold University College has unanimously decided to close 14 courses. – I think it’s so cowardly, says Toivo Ty Terjesen. He is a student at the Academy of Performing Arts, one of the studies that will now be closed to save money. Student Toivo Ty Terjesen was both frustrated and distraught when it became known that the college adopted the cuts. Photo: Ingrid Mathilde Langvik / news When he listened to the board meeting’s decision on Thursday, tears came to his eyes. – They only point to the ministry. Pointing to a direction that they choose to follow, and then they pretend it’s not their decision. They just say “oh, that was so hard”, then they go home to dinner. Anna Lund is also a student at the Academy of Performing Arts, like her fellow students she reacted strongly to today’s decision on cuts. – It was incredibly disappointing. I have to say that, says Lund. Students at the Academy of Performing Arts closely followed the flow of the board meeting on Thursday. Photo: Ingrid Mathilde Langvik / news Lund also had to shed a tear. Last week they carried out large actions in the center of Fredrikstad to mark their opposition to the cuts. – I really think the students have done everything they can to show them how important this academy is, and what kind of gap they now want to leave behind, says Lund 50-60 positions to go Chairman of the University College in Østfold, Berit Kjelstad, said after the meeting that the cuts have been a demanding issue for the board. – It is clear that this creates commitment, and commitment is important, but a board also has a responsibility to put the institution in a sound condition going forward. And adds that the board has a responsibility to ensure that the budget is balanced. The proposal to close 14 educations was first put forward by rector Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen on 7 November. Principal Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen understands that many people react. Photo: Bård Halvorsen / Bård Halvorsen It also means that between 50 and 60 positions will be cut, which corresponds to around 10 per cent of the man-years at the college. – It is important to point out that this is a demanding issue for students, staff and the board. I know it’s painful, said principal Jelsness-Jørgensen during the board meeting. – It is nothing but expected that the content of the case creates reactions. We have noticed that, and we must acknowledge that. But overall, the issue is important for the school’s financial balance. Østfold University College spent NOK 33 million over budget in 2024. These studies will be cut at Østfold University College Academy of Performing Arts Bachelor’s paramedicine part-time Master’s daycare pedagogy and early childhood science Master’s Norwegian in school Master’s mathematics didactics Annual studies: Arts and crafts Mathematics Music Science Digital competence in kindergarten Education: Practical -pedagogical education for general subjects Pre-courses for the engineering and civil engineering education and Science courses Extension studies in English, French, Spanish and German In addition, there will be zero admissions to master’s studies in green energy technology. Source: Østfold University College The school is one of several affected by budget cuts. The University of Stavanger also has to save money, then NOK 200 million. At the University College in Innlandet, like the University College in Østfold, 60 million will be cut. Østfold University College has 7,500 students spread over 100 studies in Halden and Fredrikstad. Savings measures such as hiring freezes have already been introduced. The cut proposals were considered by the college’s board today. Photo: Rune Fredriksen / news Concerned about doctorate The Academy for Performing Arts in Fredrikstad attracts applicants from all over the world. Actors, scenographers and performance artists are trained here. Østfold University College is the only school in Norway that offers a bachelor’s degree in scenography. Now the board has decided to cut the three studies. Scenography student Caroline Bang demonstrated against the cut proposal last week. Photo: Odd Skjerdal / news – This education is unique in its access to performing arts, scenography student Caroline Bang told news when the students at the school demonstrated against cuts last week. – It is absolutely terrible. There are so many good things I can say about this school here. Both the University of the Interior and UiT Norway’s Arctic University have been concerned about the closure of the creative departments at Østfold University College, according to Khrono. The three schools have been accredited for a joint doctoral program in artistic development work from 2025. Now they fear that the joint degree will fail. On 10 November, students from the Academy of Performing Arts demonstrated against Østfold College’s proposal for cuts. Photo: Rune Fredriksen / news – The region will suffer. The paramedic training will also be closed. – I am not surprised that the board is following the rector’s proposal for cuts. But we still think that a bad job has been done up front, says shop steward for the ambulance service Hans-Erik Ringnes. Hans-Erik Ringnes thinks it is tragic that the paramedic education is being closed down. Photo: Caroline Bergli Tolfsen He believes it will be more difficult to find enough qualified personnel for the ambulance service in Østfold. – We need that expertise in the specialist healthcare service and we know there are jobs for those who go on to study. The region will suffer from this, says Ringnes. – The fact that it is decided to shut down now, we cannot understand that. It is absolutely tragic. He does not think Oslo Met has the capacity to take in more people than they already do. He points out that they are also struggling financially. Chief shop steward Ragnar Knudsen believes the process has gone too fast. Photo: Stein Ove Korneliussen / news Chief trustee at Østfold University College, Ragnar Knudsen, feels that the process ahead of the board meeting has gone too quickly. – It has been two months since we heard the word restructuring, and during those two months forecasts have been made, and now conclusions must be drawn. We believe that the processes have had too little time to mature, Knudsen told news last week. Published 14.11.2024, at 13.23 Updated 14.11.2024, at 21.03
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60 man-years may disappear – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
