– We have two demands: The post of Minister of State must pass. And the new minister must know the field. That’s what the Norwegian Research Association’s leader Guro Elisabeth Lind says. On Friday, Ola Borten Moe (Sp) announced his resignation from his job as minister for research and higher education because it became clear that he had broken the government’s ethics rules. The researchers’ association demands that the resignation does not trigger changes in the government that remove the minister’s post. – The research field is a large and important field that helps create tomorrow’s solutions. We need a continued emphasis on the field with a separate minister, says Lind. Ola Borten Moe has announced that he will step down as minister, but it is still unclear who will be his successor. Photo: NTB The new minister must also be well acquainted with the field, the union demands. – The minister cannot spend a lot of time on training, because we need the government to start delivering on the promises in the government declaration. – Things have gone too fast The Swedish Research Association also describes a lack of greater involvement in political issues. They want a change to that. – Things have gone too fast. One example is the work with new funding categories for the universities and colleges. Here there were very tight deadlines, not everyone was invited to provide input, and the solution was also not assessed for its impact. – In other cases, there has been a complete lack of process, such as when the earmarking of fellows and postdoctoral fellows was suddenly removed, adds Lind. The researchers’ association was also critical of the introduction of tuition fees for non-European students, a proposal that was also not assessed for impact. And she gets support from Oline Sæther, head of the Norwegian Student Organization. – Tuition fees for non-European students, which were introduced hastily, must be reversed, so that education is free, also for those born outside Europe, she says. Oline Sæther, head of the Norwegian Student Organization, calls for more dialogue with the next Minister for Research and Higher Education. Photo: Skjalg Bøhmer Vold Sæther also calls for more cooperation and dialogue from a new minister. – In order for us to be able to build more student housing, we need a minister who collaborates with the municipalities and co-operations on good solutions. In order for us to experience studying with people from other countries, we need a minister who works for more international cooperation. But even though the student organization often disagreed with Borten Moe, Sæther also wants to praise him. – Borten Moe was a minister who asked many good questions about how the Norwegian knowledge sector should be developed. That must be continued. Don’t put all of Ola Borten Moe’s projects in a drawer! she concludes.
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– Must know the field – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
