The matter in summary: UiT has been criticized for statements related to professor Urban Wråkberg and professor emeritus Ivar Bjørklund’s trip to Russia. The criticism has centered on a possible breach of academic freedom and the creation of a personnel file. Vice-rector Jan-Gunnar Winther has now apologized to the professors involved. Bjørklund reacted strongly to the fact that the university had opened a personnel case, but Winther denied this in an e-mail. Winther has taken the initiative for a meeting with Bjørklund and Wråkberg to clear up any misunderstandings. They have agreed to meet after the holidays. Several have criticized UiT’s handling of the case, including professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo, Mads Andenæs, and lawyer and freedom of expression expert Anine Kierulf. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Recently, UiT – the Arctic University of Norway has been heavily criticized for its statements. This is in connection with Professor Urban Wråkberg and Professor Emeritus Ivar Bjørklund’s trip to Russia in June. The criticism has essentially centered on two things: a possible breach of academic freedom and the much-discussed personnel matter. – We are in a phase where we are surveying what has actually happened, so that we can get the facts, then we will treat this as a personnel matter, said Vice Chancellor for Research and Development at UiT, Jan-Gunnar Winther, to news 9. July. Now the vice-chancellor is apologizing to the professors involved. At the same time, Bjørklund acknowledges that the case has been a burden. Personnel case Bjørklund himself reacted strongly to the university having opened a personnel case, and came out strongly against the creation of the case against Wråkberg. – He was on holiday and strolled around the streets of Arkhangelsk for three days and returned home. The university will open a case on that. It is completely beyond!, stated Bjørklund the day after the creation of the alleged personnel case first became known. In an e-mail to Bjørklund and Wråkberg the following day – two days after the personnel case statement to news – he denied that the university had opened a personnel case. – I would like to inform you that UiT has not opened a personnel case against you, and that we find no breach of formal rules either nationally or at UiT level. When the case appeared in the media, it was difficult to get an overview of the degree of seriousness, he writes in the e-mail that news has obtained access to. Professor emeritus Ivar Bjørklund is satisfied that the university is now apologizing. – It’s great. I see it as an acknowledgment that you have been a little too quick on the trigger here, and have gone too far when it comes to making statements about what employees can and cannot do. MEETING: After the holidays, Ivar Bjørklund (pictured), Urban Wråkberg and Jan-Gunnar Winther will meet to talk about the matter. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news Shall meet When asked why he had previously stated that they had opened a personnel case, without that being the case, the vice-chancellor replies: – Personnel case was the wrong choice of words. The idea was that we had to deal with the matter internally, not through the media, says Winther to news. In the email, the vice-chancellor has taken the initiative to meet “in peace and quiet” with Bjørklund and Wråkberg. This is so that they can clear “any misunderstandings out of the way”. – We have agreed to meet after the holidays, but a date has not been set, he says. Professor Urban Wråkberg has not responded to news’s request for an interview in the case. The University of Tromsø regrets that two of the professors traveled to the Russian cultural festival. Professor fights back. – Can safely live with the fact that the Vice-Chancellor understands that the statements may have been burdensome for Bjørklund and Wråkberg. – I apologize if any of my statements have been burdensome for you, he writes in the e-mail to the two. Professor emeritus Ivar Bjørklund acknowledges that the case has been a burden. – Yes, in a way. To most people, it seemed that I had defied the university’s rules and done something illegal. Not everyone takes the fine nuances in this. In that sense it has been a burden, but I can safely live with it. He himself believes that the university itself has also perceived the matter as a burden. – I also think the university itself perceives it as a burden. Much that should have been left unsaid on their part, but I think we will sort this out, without there being any reason to pursue this further. LEGAL EXPERT: Professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo (UiO), Mads Andenæs, has been highly critical of UiT’s handling of the case. Photo: Benjamin Vorland Andersrød / news One of those who has been highly critical of UiT’s handling of the case is professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo (UiO), Mads Andenæs. He is happy that Winther has now apologized for his statements, which he has no doubt have been burdensome for those affected. – This – emphasizes the importance of being careful when free speech and academic freedom issues come up. Not least when it comes up in connection with personnel matters, says Andenæs, before he continues: – This is an example that one should have been more restrained and careful, and not shown action by speaking out in the way that the university administration has done. Published 20.07.2024, at 09.54
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UiT criticized trip to Russia – now the university apologizes – news Troms and Finnmark
