Rector Ragnhild Hennum was joined by University Director Arne Benjaminsen and Johan Løberg Tofte, Section Manager for HSE and Emergency preparedness. This is UiO’s special competency unit within the areas of working environment, security and safety.
Hennum explained that she is frequently asked about international cooperation and UiO’s emergency preparedness and therefore considered these to be important topics for a meeting with university staff.
– Major changes have taken place in the regulations for international cooperation in recent years, particularly in terms of recruitment. Nonetheless, the precautions that need to be taken vary greatly between disciplines. We have general guidelines, but have to make specific assessments in each case, she said.
Rector Hennum emphasised that UiO has good structures in place and that support is available should anyone need assistance.
Total preparedness and the Command and Staff Course
The Total Preparedness Year 2026 puts preparedness in turbulent times on the agenda for UiO as well. University Director Arne Benjaminsen has attended the Senior Executive Course at The Norwegian Defense University College – what did he learn there?
– We received a thorough overview of how Norwegian society is organised to handle crisis situations or, worst case, war. Importantly, in such situations we should mainly continue doing what we normally do, he said.
Norway’s national security strategy is currently under revision, and Benjaminsen reminded the audience of the three main points in the strategy: Norway must have a strong defence, secure economic structures and a robust civil society.
– UiO is an important part of civil society. Norway has ambitions to be a leader in technology, and it is our job to help build an understanding of these technologies. Our students and staff understand and monitor how the global order is changing. And not least, we must differentiate between fake news and reliable sources of information. UiO have research and knowledge, so that the population can understand one another and the changes we are facing, said Benjaminsen.
He pointed out that several of the lecturers on the Senior Executive Course came from UiO: lawyers, technologists, historians and political scientists. Many of the leaders in the Armed Forces also have a master’s degree, often from UiO, in addition to their military education.
An important lesson for UiO in times of crisis is the significance of international cooperation, said the University Director. Cooperation in research and education must continue – between researchers, students and society – and this is perhaps our most important contribution to peace.
– UiO should, as far as possible, collaborate with other countries, while necessary precautions must be taken with certain countries, such as Iran and North Korea. UiO follows the applicable regulations. As for China, there are no regulations from the authorities, and it suits UiO well to define the framework for such cooperation ourselves, said Benjaminsen.
– We have good systems in place so that we do not need to worry. My impression is that it is in the interest of all staff to abide with laws and regulations, and we will organise ourselves so that we can maintain as much international cooperation as possible, said Hennum.
Emergency preparedness at UiO
The Section HSE and Emergency preparedness support managers at all levels in matters of security and preparedness, and provide courses and emergency exercises for the faculties.
Section head Johan Løberg Tofte pointed out the importance of routines at all levels of the organisation. Support is available for those who need it.
Emergency exercises are held each year, based on realistic scenarios such as fire, incidents abroad, power outages or ongoing life-threatening violence.
The Rector believes UiO has good planning frameworks for exercises, in addition to very strong IT security.
– The most important preparedness objective is to be able to maintain as much normal activity as possible even in times of crisis, said the University Director.
He reminded the audience that the pandemic began as an emergency situation but gradually became more normalised, and that UiO has built on that experience and now has an established and well-functioning collaboration with the health sector.
The audience raised a question about how preparedness is handled in the new Life Science Building. The University Director reassured everyone that the emergency plans for the new building are good and that UiO has the required number of shelters as per regulations. In addition, the Life Science Building has a basement with an emergency power generator in case of a power cut, which safeguards vulnerable laboratory samples.
Another question from the audience concerned job opportunities after graduation for technologists, particularly in sectors that require security clearance. Is this something UiO should warn potential students about? Both the Rector and the University Director believe the demand for technologists from UiO is high, and therefore this is a concern which affect a very small number of people.