Sjur Bergan served as the head of the Council of Europe's education department until February 2022. During his tenure, he oversaw various projects related to Competences for Democratic Culture and European Qualifications Passport for Refugees.
He also represented Council of Europe in the Bologna follow-up group and board from 2000 to 2022 and chaired three working groups for structural reforms between 2007 and 2015. He remains a member of the working group for fundamental values for higher education in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Bergan has a background as the editor of Council of Europe's higher education series and has authored various publications on education and higher education policy, including Qualifications: Introduction to a Concept and Not of Bread Alone. Bergan was also one of the editors of the Raabe Handbook on Leadership and Governance in Higher Education.
Sjur Bergan has been an unwavering advocate for academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and international cooperation and solidarity in Europe and worldwide. He has mainly focused on the structural and normative framework that shapes the opportunities available to academic staff and students.
UiO's honorary doctoral degrees
Honorary doctoral degrees of UiO (Doctor Honoris Causa) are given to prominent academics. The degrees are awarded without a thesis defence/disputation.
UiO has been entitled to appoint honorary doctorates since 1824, and appointments usually occur every three years.
The honorary doctors are conferred at UiO's Annual Celebration on 2 September.