This text has been translated from Norwegian with the assistance of GPT UiO.
At the end of 2025, the department had an accumulated deficit of ten million kroner. Forecasts indicate that this deficit will increase to fifteen million kroner in 2026. At its December 2025 meeting, the Faculty Board therefore requested a review of the department’s strategic and organisational room for manoeuvre.
Working group to consider measures
The Dean has appointed a working group to assess the department’s financial and academic situation and to prepare proposals for measures. The group consists of
- Jostein Askim, Chair of the working group
- Thorgeir Kolshus, Head of Department, Department of Social Anthropology
- Professor Trine Waaktaar, Department of Psychology
- Bård Kjos, Faculty Director, Faculty of Educational Sciences
- Ingalill Herstad, union representative
- Mari Gakkestad, local chief safety representative
- Reidunn Nielsen, Financial Adviser
- Jannicke Helen Monsen, Secretary to the working group
The Faculty Board was informed of the composition of the working group and its mandate at the meeting on 19 March.
Mandate of the working group
- Review financial developments over the past 5–7 years, including the causes of the deficit and the effects of previous measures.
- Produce projections for 2026–2032 with at least two scenarios:
- current level of activity with exemption from recruitment position targets
- current level of activity without exemption
- Make a strategic academic assessment of the department’s role within the faculty, at UiO and nationally.
- Identify possible synergies, opportunities for collaboration and relevant organisational adjustments in both the short and long term.
- Propose a full range of all conceivable alternative solutions and, for each alternative, briefly describe the financial, academic and organisational advantages and disadvantages, as well as key risks.
The working group is to submit its report to the Dean by 10 June, after which the Dean will decide on the further process.