English version is AI generated
I greatly appreciate this tradition and gathering at this time of year to wish each other a Merry Christmas. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the year that is coming to an end.
The very first event of the new year was Tora assuming the position of Dean of Studies. In April, Lars returned as Dean of Research after parental leave. Much is happening across the sector, and having two such dedicated colleagues in the dean's office is invaluable for the entire faculty. I look forward to the next three years.
2024 has been an anniversary year. We have marked and celebrated that no fewer than three of the faculty's seven basic units have had anniversaries. SAI celebrated its 60th anniversary, ARENA its 30th, and the faculty's youngest unit, TIK, has turned 25. The anniversaries have been excellent opportunities to showcase some of the activities happening at these units.
Research underpins everything we do. On the research front, there is much to be excited about. Like last year, several of our academic environments achieved very high rankings on the Shanghai list: Sociology (30th place), Political Science (34th place), and Public Administration (36th place). The value of such rankings is debated, and while we shouldn't become fixated on occasional high placements, consistently high performance is cause for celebration. Such results highlight the strength of the faculty's academic environments, and we all shine a little brighter because of them.
The faculty's employees perform well in competitive research funding arenas. We prioritize curiosity-driven research, so we are particularly focused on funding sources where the financier does not dictate researchers' choice of topics and issues. It is therefore immensely gratifying that five new ERC grants have been awarded to faculty staff this past year, with a total budget of nearly NOK 112 million. ARENA’s Ines Wagner has received an StG, and Siri Leknes at PSI has received a CoG. Andrea Nightingale from ISS has received an AdG. Vegard Skirbekk from PSI has also received an AdG, and Yves Steinebach from ISV is a partner in an AdG. These achievements are impressive and showcase the breadth of the faculty's activities. We look forward to following these projects in the future.
The Research Council of Norway is the most important funding source for our faculty, and I want to mention that three of our employees have received FRIPRO early career funding: Syn?ve Andersen from ISS, Maryna Povitkina from ISS, and Karl Harmenberg from ?I. Very few things are more gratifying than seeing our younger employees succeed in this way. I also commend those of you who have submitted applications that have not yet been funded. Your turn will come next time.
In recent years, it has become clear that the social sciences also require research infrastructure, even if our infrastructure does not resemble that used in experimental sciences. The Research Council allocates significant funds to research infrastructure, and there was great joy when the KODEM infrastructure was awarded large INFRA funding earlier this autumn. KODEM stands for Coordinated Online Panels and is an infrastructure that allows for the collection of large amounts of survey data from various sub-populations related to citizenship and democracy in a coordinated and systematic way. Tobias Bach from ISV is the deputy chairman of KODEM. KODEM brings together all the research environments in Norway that conduct survey research and is a good example of the benefits that can come from collaborating on large applications.
In addition to all the basic research, there is increasing activity related to social innovation, including innovation activities linked to UiO’s Spark social innovation initiative.
There is also much to be excited about on the teaching front. The faculty has recognized its second distinguished educator, Jemima Garcia-Godos. Notably, both Jemima and David Jordhus Lier, a veteran distinguished educator, are employed by ISS. This bodes well for the quality of education moving forward.
Speaking of educational quality, EILIN was nominated for the Educational Quality Award. We believe that EILIN should have won but were pleased that EILIN received very positive feedback from Nokut’s award committee. We are all committed to ensuring that students have a good start to their studies, and the record number of mentors this autumn and the lack of any Si-fra cases related to the start of studies indicate that students had a smooth start at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
There are also developments on the PhD front: We are now participating in the so-called Week 2 offer, which is an interfaculty collaboration on highly voluntary non-credit courses in career-promoting activities for PhDs and postdocs.
We know that many people face challenges related to mental health. However, it is difficult to recruit clinical psychologists in many parts of Norway, including in the Inland region. A working group led by Merete Glenne ?ye from PSI, with representatives from PSI, the faculty, and Innlandet Hospital, has therefore explored the possibility of establishing a decentralized or regional professional psychology study program where students start their studies in Oslo and complete them in the Inland region. The report concludes that this is feasible and outlines how such a program can be designed. The report was presented and handed over to the steering committee for this project at an event in Hamar at the end of October, attended by hospital management, the rector, and Hamar’s mayor, among others. It received a very warm and positive reception. PSI is now working on establishing a study track with its own admission for students who will complete their studies in the Inland region. We hope the government will recognize the importance of this opportunity and allocate the necessary funds to establish this much-needed supplement to the existing professional psychology education.
Last, but certainly not least: As a brand-new Dean of Studies, Tora initiated a thorough review of the faculty’s entire study program portfolio. The background for this was the University of Oslo’s leadership changes to the annual cycle for educational portfolio work, including a new major meeting between university leadership, the deans meeting, and the Education Committee early in the autumn semester. The work on the educational portfolio at UiO is evidently important. To be as well-prepared as possible for the so-called September meeting, three different seminars/workshops on the educational portfolio were held within the faculty during the spring semester. Additionally, there was extensive work within the individual units. Thanks to the significant efforts of the units, the portfolio process was a positive and educational experience, laying a solid foundation for further development of the study portfolio going forward. Over the past two years, the total number of applicants to the faculty’s study programs has increased by around 18%, indicating that we are an attractive place of study for young adults interested in social sciences. An educational portfolio that connects all the fantastic research taking place at the faculty with our education in the best possible way is a crucial contribution to ensuring that our study programs continue to attract interested, engaged, and well-qualified students.
Our staff are not only talented researchers and dedicated educators. Many also spend considerable time disseminating their research to reach a wide audience. Cathrine Thorleifsson from SAI received the Research Council's dissemination award in November. It is a prestigious award, and Cathrine is a very deserving winner. It is also fitting to mention the lecture series "The Brain in the Center" at Domus Bibliotheca, which started in spring 2023 but became so popular that it was extended through the spring semester of 2024. Many faculty members, especially from PSI, have participated in events covering diverse topics including memory, dementia, sleep, personality, and substance use. This series was presented in Trondheim during the research dissemination days and concluded with a significant event in the Aula.
Often, at occasions like this, scientific staff receive much well-deserved praise. But I also want to commend the administration at the institutes and centers, and the shared services at the faculty. We have a highly competent administration, and we cannot achieve our goals in any area without their expertise and willingness to push and support. Thank you for the excellent collaboration between the scientific staff and the administration. Together, we are dynamite!
There is much to be grateful for within our faculty. But occasionally, profoundly sad things happen. The faculty has lost several wonderful colleagues over the past two years. Bente Tr?en from PSI passed away unexpectedly last year, and this summer, Evalill B?lstad, also from PSI, passed away. Recently, we lost Thomas Hylland Eriksen from SAI, who had been ill for a long time. We have also been deeply affected by the loss of students, which is obviously a dramatic experience for many, especially the students. A special thanks to Bj?rn, Vibeke, Thorgeir, Kari, and Tron for the exceptional way you have managed these challenging situations.
Dear everyone: Thank you for another eventful year. I look forward to continuing this journey with you. But first, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry and well-deserved Christmas break. I hope each one of you gets to enjoy some time with loved ones.