Rationale
Europe in general, and Norway in particular, lack competitiveness. At the same time, Norway is one of the world's most prosperous industrialized nations and serves as an international beacon in areas such as gender equality, civil rights, peace, and sports. The country's natural resources and economic wealth per capita are almost unparalleled globally. With these assets, Norway has both the duty and the potential to be at the forefront of education, science, and innovation—key building blocks for competitiveness. The University of Oslo (UiO) can play a vital role in addressing today's significant societal challenges. UiO has vast opportunities and human resources to develop innovative solutions requiring high expertise and rapid technological development, including new digital tools. A UiO that invests strongly in robust and innovative teaching, fundamental and groundbreaking research, as well as innovation, value creation, and industry collaboration, can significantly contribute to positioning Norway as a leading nation in Europe and the world. Only a society that is technologically advanced through research and innovation can influence the socio-ethical and regulatory debates and legislation. A guiding principle must be academic freedom and the university's independence.
We, the rectorate team "Ursin/Krauss," see great opportunities and challenges in developing UiO into a global center of excellence for teaching, science, and innovation.
To achieve this position, UiO must rank among the best universities according to international rankings, such as the "Times Higher Education" ranking. University rankings may be criticized for lacking a robust scientific foundation and for not providing a holistic picture, but the universities that perform best in these rankings attract donations and are often perceived as the most desirable places to study and work. Achieving a top international ranking requires not only stable and responsible management of existing structures but also a strategic focus on increasing external funding and capital while developing innovative solutions to advance education, research, innovation, and industrial development.
Background
The University Board's 2023 annual report describes UiO's financial situation as challenging, and the board expects the economic situation to become even tighter in the coming years. Many departments are now heading towards deficits, which is not sustainable. In this context, we must shift from the current, relatively static financial model to a more dynamic one, accompanied by necessary structural adjustments inspired by top international universities. This transformation will enable the untapped potential of research, innovation, and teaching environments to be realized.
There are many excellent teaching environments, including, but not limited to, the Centers for Excellence in Education (SFUs), which have worked diligently for years to develop programs and teaching methods. The rectorate will collaborate with teaching environments to ensure quality and showcase this excellence while also creating structures to leverage this expertise and these capabilities in a national and international context.</