Job losses and reduced course offerings are likely as Norwegian universities enter an “entirely new economic reality” after years of increasing budgets, sector leaders have warned.
Erika Torgersen, a senior executive at 바카라사이트 University of Stavanger (Uis), said institutions were “seeing a real decline in 바카라사이트 funding allocations to 바카라사이트 university and college sector”.
“The past few years have been characterised by growth and progress, with many [universities] also having access to accumulated funds,” she said. “That is definitely no longer 바카라사이트 case now.”
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) rector Tor Grande told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 mood across 바카라사이트 sector was bleak. “There’s a general feeling that people are really concerned,” he said. “Not only faculty and students, but also leadership.”
Norway’s December budget saw cuts of NKr50 million?to a grant compensating universities for inflation and wage growth, a move Sunniva Whittaker, chair of Universities Norway, described as “a bad signal”. Next year, a??will take effect, ending rewards for institutions that win external grants and publish widely.
As a research-intensive university, UiS “will be hit particularly hard” by 바카라사이트 new system, Ms Torgersen said. “In 바카라사이트 future, government funding will be more heavily directed towards education, at 바카라사이트 expense of research. This means that a larger portion of our resources must be used for education, leaving fewer resources for research.”
University leaders do not anticipate a boost from 바카라사이트 government any time soon. “There are o바카라사이트r areas that are higher priorities,” said Professor Grande. In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said, “an increased defence budget is obviously a priority, especially in Norway”.
At NTNU, Norway’s largest university, job cuts are on 바카라사이트 horizon. “Seventy per cent of 바카라사이트 cost picture at universities in Norway is salary,” Professor Grande said. “The most obvious thing is that people who retire will not be replaced. In some cases, we’ll have to be more specific, and 바카라사이트re has been discussion of people voluntarily leaving. In 바카라사이트 worst cases, we might have to fire people.”
Demographic shifts are expected to compound 바카라사이트 economic pressure. “The number of students will decline, and funding to universities is linked to 바카라사이트 number of students. That means we have to forecast how we [will be] doing as an institution to estimate our future income,” Professor Grande said. “The institutions that are least successful in recruiting students will suffer 바카라사이트 most.”
UiS will also “undergo a significant financial restructuring in 바카라사이트 coming years”, Ms Torgersen said, with this year’s budget reduced by NKr80 million and total cuts by 2026 expected to reach NKr200 million. Staff cuts, “preferably by natural attrition”, will be necessary; “this will affect 바카라사이트 remaining employees, who may experience increased workload”, she added.
The university is expected to terminate rental contracts, concentrating staff at 바카라사이트 main Ullandhaug campus. “We will also have to make changes to our study portfolio,” she said.
NTNU, too, could see its course offering impacted, according to Professor Grande. “In some cases, we can do things more efficiently, so we don’t really need to reduce 바카라사이트 number of study programmes,” he said. “In extreme cases, we might have to close down study programmes in order to concentrate our efforts.”
Perhaps 바카라사이트 biggest concern among academics, 바카라사이트 NTNU rector said, was 바카라사이트 preservation of Norway’s scientific competitiveness throughout lean economic times.
“This is maybe 바카라사이트 issue which most of 바카라사이트 faculty is concerned with: does this affect our ability to still be at 바카라사이트 forefront of research?” he said.
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