Election platform
More than ever, it is important to strengthen support for democratic processes and institutions. Voter turnout and the number of available candidates among temporary academic staff are consistently low. This trend can and should be seen in light of the working conditions and challenges this group faces. I am standing for election because I believe that good working conditions for temporary academic staff are a prerequisite for a robust university democracy.
Less and better temporary employment
Temporary academic staff play a crucial role in research and teaching at the University of Oslo. They represent a diverse group, but many find themselves in a difficult position between unclear expectations, the desire to qualify for further employment, and considerations of their health and well-being. I want to advocate for a system that does not reward only those who have the resources to take risks over time, but instead offers good framework conditions where temporary academic employment is, precisely, a temporary step on the path toward a predictable work life.
My goals are to:
- Strengthen opportunities for qualifying for further employment and research funding.
- Improve the framework conditions for temporary academic staff.
- Facilitate clearer expectations, better career planning, and stronger working communities.
University democracy, academic freedom, and a university for all
The pressure on democracy, freedom of speech, and inclusion is increasing worldwide. Strengthening university democracy and academic freedom is crucial in the fight against authoritarian forces. For temporary academic staff, it can be challenging and risky to spend time on democratic participation (instead of publications) and public debate. But choosing not to can undermine university democracy.
My goals are to:
- Increase interest in university democracy during and outside elections, particularly among temporary academic staff.
- Ensure that temporary staff have better and more long-term representation on the university board.
- Support temporary staff who research and communicate on controversial topics.
- Create a university that takes both small and large authoritarian tendencies seriously.
About me
I am a Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Media and Communication. I hold a master’s degree in rhetoric and linguistic communication from the Department of Linguistic and Nordic Studies, where I have also been temporarily employed as academic staff. Additionally, I have experience as a freelancer, project manager, and communications director outside academia.
During the spring of 2025, I will be a visiting researcher at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy at Penn State University. The overall political situation in the US is alarming, but experiencing how it both shakes and paralyzes an academic institution is also formative. The state administration is targeting academic freedom, attacking the universities' models for funding from multiple angles, and attempting to control and censor research. This experience provides a strong motivation to engage more actively in the university democracy at UiO.
Nominators
- Gunnar Bugge Helle, HF
- Sine Bjordal, HF