– I’m very proud. Others sit and write their memoirs and biographies, but I have made this one here, she says and takes what looks like a book from a box. On the front it says «Volunteering in collaboration. Participation of voluntary organizations in rescue services and emergency preparedness work ». This is Aasland’s doctoral degree. On Thursday, she defended her dissertation. Now she can call herself a doctor. Only six women and 16 men have done the same as her: Delivered a doctorate after the age of 75. – I know many people my age who are very happy to have more time for family, travel and such. I am happy with my choice of the way to spend time, and what I have achieved, says Aasland. Tora Aasland had her dissertation on Wednesday at the University of Stavanger. Photo: Anett Espeland / news For this lady is not anyone. She started in the Storting for SV in 1985. Since then she has been our county governor (now State Administrator) in Rogaland and higher education and research minister in Jens Stoltenberg’s second government. – I think it is incredibly nice that I can also gather this knowledge and disseminate it, says the 79-year-old. Aasland says the work on the dissertation has shown that what the volunteers and the local community contribute to the emergency preparedness must receive more money and more attention. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news Trendy with older doctors According to Statistics Norway, six women and 16 men over the age of 75 have completed a doctorate at Norwegian educational institutions. 17 of them have been taken since the turn of the millennium, and ten of them since 2016. – Although the numbers are small, it seems to be more common to take a doctorate in adulthood. The oldest candidates have been around for 83 years in public defense, says Bo Sarpebakken, senior adviser at Statistics Norway. Disputes are public. Here, Aasland presents her research, before she met critical questions from professionals in the field. Photo: Anett Espeland / news At the lecture, Aasland defended the degree of Dr. Philos at the University of Stavanger (UiS). Just like a Ph.D. it is a doctoral degree, but Aasland has not used resources that students would otherwise do. A Dr. philos does not supervise or seize other forces at an educational institution, but sits in the city with all the responsibility himself. – It is not so common for someone to defend their dissertation at the age of 79, says Merete Vadla Madland. Merete Vadla Madland thinks older people can contribute with a different view of research than younger people, and cheers on older academics. Photo: Odin Omland / news Ho is vice-rector for research at UiS and says they would like to see more pensioners taking dr.philos. – The elderly have a broader experience and another knowledge that they can contribute to the research with, says Madland. – Could see me in the rocking chair Aasland sees the work, which she has spent several years on, as a way to give back to society. – I think it is an interesting and nice way to acknowledge a little to the society that has been important for my job and my area of responsibility through a long life. And give back some of the knowledge and experience that I have gained, she says. – You could just sit down and relax now? – I could. I could see myself in the rocking chair and not do anything else, but I have always wanted to work. – I have worked with social security and emergency preparedness in recent years, since I quit as county governor. It was just more and more, so someone managed to persuade me to make even more out of it, says Aasland. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news Her husband Tarald Oma says he has not paid much attention to his wife’s work on the doctoral thesis, because she is one who always works. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news Aasland’s assignment is about voluntary organizations’ role in crisis situations. She took an interest in it as she, as county governor, worked a lot with emergency preparedness. She has found that even more inclusion of voluntary organizations is needed. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news
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Tora Aasland is 79 years old. Now she has delivered a doctorate – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
