Why do you want to run for the board of the University of Oslo?
As the representative for temporary academic staff on the institute board at the Department of Special Needs Education (ISP), I have developed an increasing interest in university democracy and in how it can serve as an arena for participation and influence.
I wish to run for the University Board at the University of Oslo (UiO) in order to help shape UiO’s strategic direction, particularly with regard to priorities in research, education, and competence development.
What are your important issues, briefly?
A recent report from the research institute NIFU shows that employees in temporary positions – especially PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows – report a higher incidence of work-related mental health issues.
A large share of the academic staff at the University of Oslo (UiO) are on temporary contracts: in 2025, roughly one in five held a temporary academic position. As a representative of temporary academic staff, I want to help ensure that this group’s voice is clearly heard in matters that affect us, and to promote working conditions that make UiO a place where we can and want to stay.
Support in research
Good support and clear guidance are crucial both for research of high academic quality and for further career development, both within and outside academia. Each faculty could benefit from strengthening its support systems to ensure good working conditions for all temporary academic staff.
Support in teaching
Temporary staff often have limited teaching experience when they start in their position and spend a lot of time preparing for teaching. Adequate support that saves time without compromising the quality of teaching is therefore essential. For example, each new employee could benefit from access to a digital teaching package with examples and templates, and from an academic mentor who knows the subject they are to teach.
Election platform
- Strengthen the quality of follow-up and support in research and teaching
- Strengthen career development and facilitate further job opportunities
About me
I hold a degree in speech and language therapy from the Department of Special Needs Education (ISP) at UiO, and I am currently a PhD candidate at ISP. I have been employed in temporary academic positions at UiO for five years, both as a research assistant and as a PhD candidate.
Nominator
- Postdoctoral Fellow Lei Wang, UV