Hennum commenced the meeting by expressing gratitude for the warm reception she and the rest of the Rectorate have received at the University of Oslo since their appointment on 1 August.
She then proceeded to summarise the implications of the 2026 state budget for UiO.
Basic grant and the Life Sciences Building
– We still enjoy solid state funding for our sector, although it has weakened somewhat in recent years – specifically, by 8 percent since 2019, in the case of UiO. This year, we faced a reduction of 0.5 percent in our basic grant. Over the years all universities in Norway face this reduction and it is critical for us to maintain basic grants to maintain the breadth of our academic portefolio, she stated.
Ahead of the state budget announcement, there was considerable anticipation regarding the issue of UiO paying rent for the new Life Sciences Building currently under construction in Gaustadbekkdalen.
– It is an incredibly impressive building, where the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Dentistry will accommodate many individuals. However, during the construction process, the project changed, leading us from ownership to having to lease the building from Statsbygg. We do not have the budget to cover that rent, which has concerned us for some time. Thankfully, the state budget now proposes to partly cover this expense, which we are very pleased about. Consequently, both the construction and moving-in plans are proceeding as intended.
Various initiatives in new technologies, AI, and the Arctic Ocean
Hennum also highlighted other favourable aspects of the state budget for UiO.
– The government has launched several initiatives. For instance, we received funding for 50 new student places in quantum technology, alongside a substantial research investment in this subject field. UiO will also benefit from significant allocations for technology-related research: in the first year, we shall receive 25 million, followed by a permanent increase of 50 million for UiO moving forward, she emphasised.
– This funding is directed towards the two institutions in the country which the government deems strongest in technology: NTNU and UiO. We believe this will benefit research in the technological field across the entire nation.
As if this were not enough, Hennum also mentioned the government's AI billion initiative – where UiO has been granted two centres for artificial intelligence – and the new initiative “Arctic Ocean 2050,” where UiO is among 18 institutions studying the significant changes occurring in the Arctic Ocean and strengthening Norway's position in polar research.
– We are grateful for all these initiatives, but we also aim to send a signal to the authorities that the basic grant must not be diminished. It is the foundation of our operations. Such specific initiatives require co-funding, and there is a risk they may divert resources from our base. Research within specific initiatives is also directed in certain ways. We are committed to maintaining strong basic research to preserve academic breadth.
New University Board: research and operational reporting
The University Board held its second meeting earlier this week. Prior to this, a seminar was conducted for the board, the central university management, and the deans, where UiO's research was the focal point.
– UiO has achieved considerable success with externally funded projects in recent years. We have secured many projects from both the Norwegian Research Council and the EU's Horizon Europe framework programme. We have particularly excelled in ERC grants – where we rank second in the Nordic region. That is very positive, but for the faculties, it is also crucial that the basic grant is sufficiently large to maintain our breadth alongside these impressive projects, Hennum remarked.
She also touched upon the operational reporting that took place during the board meeting itself.
– It is going quite well, if you ask me. The faculties are working diligently to balance their long-term budgets in collaboration with UiO centrally. From my perspective, we have good cost control and feel somewhat more secure than we did last spring.
Board Meeting: sustainable procurement and academic boycott
The university board was initially set to adopt a resolution regarding sustainable procurement and international research cooperation (also encompassing academic boycott of Israel) but decided to postpone this and just discuss the issues instead.
Last year, the previous university board adopted stricter ethical guidelines for UiO’s procurement processes. During this week’s board meeting, the new board received an update on the progress made.
– It is a complex area. UiO is a significant purchaser: we have 5,000 suppliers and 600 ongoing contracts from no less than 92 countries. We adopt a risk-based approach to procurement, conducting more thorough investigations where the risks are higher. The procurement department received praise from the board for their efforts in systematising this work, Hennum said and further explained:
– This issue is viewed by many in connection with purchases from Israeli companies. It is important to note that UiO purchases very little from Israel. So far this year, we have only spent 56,000 kroner on highly specialised medical products from Israeli suppliers.
She pointed out that UiO's procurement is also bound by national and international regulations.
– The other major topic at the board meeting was the discussion on an academic boycott of Israel. This is a question on which opinions at UiO are divided. However, I believe everyone agrees that we are shocked and that we condemn the impact on the civilian population in Gaza as a result of the warfare there. Yet the question of a boycott encompasses more elements than that. The principle of academic freedom comes into play, Hennum continued.
– UiO has no overarching or institutional agreements with Israel, as far as I see it; however, we do have researchers involved in seven EU projects that also include Israeli partners. There are differing opinions – both at UiO and within the board – on whether we should engage in such projects or pursue an academic boycott of Israel. We will discuss this further in a future board meeting. Regardless, it is essential that we all remain good colleagues with each other, even if we hold differing views on this matter. The management's position is that we should not impose an academic boycott, but we shall see what the board ultimately decides.
The Gokstad Ship's final voyage
In conclusion, Hennum briefly touched upon the recent relocation of the Gokstad ship to the new Museum of the Viking Age.
– Now both the Gokstad and Oseberg ships are in place. This heritage from the Viking Age is designated as a world heritage, and we have been given the responsibility to preserve it. By late 2027, we will open a truly magnificent museum at Bygd?y, where visitors can explore the entirety of the Viking Age.
- The next digital all hands meeting with the Rector will take place on 28 November from 09:00 to 09:30.
- Suggestions for the next meeting can be sent to: bente.bakken@admin.uio.no