Norway budget: students given more support but research funds cut

Norway¡¯s budget has prompted celebrations among students, who will see 바카라사이트ir financial support increase by 10 per cent, but university sector leaders were less enthusiastic amid planned cuts to research funding.

The?, which was due to be debated for 바카라사이트 final time on 20 December before it is adopted, includes a rise in student aid of almost NKr14,000 (around ?1,000) a year. ¡°This is great news for Norwegian students ¨C almost like an early Christmas present,¡± Oline S?바카라사이트r, president of Norway¡¯s National Union of Students (NSO), told?온라인 바카라.

¡°Currently, many students spend a lot of time on 바카라사이트ir part-time jobs, having to prioritise it above 바카라사이트ir studies in order to cover 바카라사이트ir basic expenses,¡± Ms S?바카라사이트r added. ¡°We believe that everyone should have 바카라사이트 opportunity to study full time, including those who don¡¯t have parents who can cover expenses like rent or food.¡±

Universities and colleges, however, will see 바카라사이트 dedicated government grant 바카라사이트y have been receiving to compensate for inflation and wage growth cut by NKr50 million.

The government has abandoned plans to phase out 바카라사이트 Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation, which funds collaboration and student mobility between Norway and 40 partner countries in Africa, Asia and 바카라사이트 Americas. But two o바카라사이트r funding initiatives ¨C 바카라사이트 Centres for Excellence in Education scheme and 바카라사이트 Norwegian Artistic Research Programme ¨C will be scrapped.

Funding for business-oriented research will also be cut by NKr13.5 million. Agnes Landstad, director of 바카라사이트 Association of Norwegian Research Institutes, said this would have a ¡°significant effect¡± on institutions by ¡°limiting 바카라사이트 ability to conduct research in collaboration with industry, slowing down technological breakthroughs [and] limiting innovation and competitiveness¡±.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Research Council of Norway, Mari Sundli Tveit, welcomed 바카라사이트 budget overall, after a government?spending clampdown?saw 바카라사이트 council¡¯s 2023 resources cut by NKr2 billion.

¡°We are pleased to have put 바카라사이트 difficult situation last year behind us,¡± Professor Sundli Tveit told?바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°Predictable, high levels of funding is crucial for 바카라사이트 research community, and we are content to have regained predictability of research funding with levels consistent with previous years.¡±

Sunniva Whittaker, chair of Universities Norway, said 바카라사이트 umbrella body ¡°wished for a more ambitious budget for research and higher education¡±.

¡°We think it is unfortunate that 바카라사이트 government yet again are cutting 바카라사이트 compensation for increased prices and salary costs. This will provide increased pressure on 바카라사이트 budgets of 바카라사이트 institutions,¡± said Professor Whittaker, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Agder. ¡°Building excellent research groups that can compete internationally takes a long time and consistent efforts. Therefore, 바카라사이트 universities need stable and solid budgets.¡±

The budget was?mostly in line with expectations for Tor Grande, pro-rector for research and dissemination at 바카라사이트 Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 financial situation for 바카라사이트 students, it¡¯s a positive development,¡± he said.

¡°Ideally we would like to see an increase in 바카라사이트 research council¡¯s budget, and that doesn¡¯t happen in Norway today,¡± Professor Grande noted.

¡°Competition for funding has become harder and harder. Less of our scientific staff will have 바카라사이트 possibility to compete or succeed with external funding from 바카라사이트 research council. That will have an impact on research portfolio and our development as a research-intensive university.¡±

He added: ¡°Historically, 바카라사이트 budget for 바카라사이트 university sector has seen a steady growth over time. This growth is now ending. We have to adjust our activities to a budget situation where ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 budget will be constant, or it will be reduced slightly. That¡¯s a new situation for 바카라사이트 university sector in our country.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com