Career development and further education

Management development

The management forum is the rector’s meeting of managers. This meeting provides an arena for discussion and knowledge exchange across the organisation in respect of strategic objectives. The management forum also provides an arena for creation of collective understanding of strategic institution-wide objectives, and also in order to assist with problem resolution, discussion and awareness throughout the institution. The management forum provides an opportunity to endorse decisions and acts as a listening post for the rector and the strategic department management. The management forum is normally held two or three times per semester.

Women to the top

15 to 20 women in associate professor positions are being offered the opportunity to participate in a promotion programme providing mentoring in the skills development process until they are promoted to professor. The aim of this is to increase the percentage of women holding professorships. Participants in the programme undergo a trial evaluation similar to an actual evaluation for a professorship. The aim of the programme is to register what candidates may be lacking in order to achieve professorial skills, and to provide motivation and support in the process until candidates achieve promotion to professor.

The Career Development Program

The Career Development Program is a collaboration between the Research Department, HR and researchers. The Research Department admits applications to the program in March. The program is for researchers who plan to apply for external funds in a few years. In order to qualify as an early-stage researcher you must hold a position at UiS and in the first 7 years of your approved doctorate. The program offers skills development in career planning, internationalisation, communication and project development. The program is in english. Please contact Birgitte Dambo for any questions.

The Supervisory Qualification Programme

This popular supervisory programme consists of three two-day learning modules at Sola Strand hotel. Admissions in November. The programme is a collaboration between the Research Department and experienced supervisors. Your leader at Department is responsible for signing you up. Please contact your leader, or Marit Fosse or from the Research Department for any questions.

Merit scheme

Anyone who achieves qualified teacher status is accepted to the University Board in the March of the following year. Qualified teachers receive an annual pay increase of NOK 50,000 gross.

This scheme includes the categories of professor and associate professor. The criteria for qualification are the same for all positions, but they are assessed in the light of the educational context and position category. You must document progression and scope of activities linked with teaching and supervision.

NyTi

NyTi does not just involve teaching-related supervision, but is also an integration programme for new employees in order to familiarise them quickly with the institution and practice at the University of Stavanger as regards issues related to teaching and everything on which teaching is based. NyTi provides the opportunity to get to know other academic staff and develop academic networks.

There are two NyTi admission procedures a year, with deadlines on 1 September and 1 February. Commencing September/October and February/March.

The UniPed group, which is responsible for implementation of the programme, appoints a supervisor for new employees. This supervisor must be employed in an academic position at the university and have completed studies in professional supervision.

Basic course - educational-pedagogical competence

If you fail to meet the skills requirement, you must complete a course in university pedagogy within two years of appointment. This course is offered by the university

and is a 150-hour course. Relevant topics on the course to date have included planning, implementation and assessment of courses and teaching, student-active learning methods and how to prepare lectures, assessments and examinations. Colleague learning and the use of colleagues as “critical friends” is another important area.

Mentor programme

Women in postdoctoral and PhD positions are offered the opportunity to participate in a special mental programme encouraging a career in research at the University of Stavanger. The aim of this is to increase the percentage of women in academic positions in technical-natural science disciplines. Anyone participating in the programme will be mentored by a professor at the university.

Following lectures at the university

It is assumed that the disciplines will be relevant to your duties at the university, and a written agreement with your line manager must be entered into beforehand.  Any such agreement assumes that your participation in lectures does not significantly affect technical operations at the unit. You are entitled to reading days and time off on examination day, and your semester fee charges will be refunded when you pass the examination.

Internal courses

A number of these are listed here:

• ^{The IT department regularly offers various courses for staff on the use of various tools.}
• ^{The university library offers courses on academic writing, searching for reference literature and the use of various digital tools when writing, among other things.}
• ^{The Department of Research Policy and Coordination offers courses on research supervision and writing applications.}
• ^{The HR department offers meetings on ergonomics and various management development courses, among other things}

ECIU

ECIU universities are working together across national borders in order to develop teaching methods and educational quality to the highest level. This involves greater focus on challenge-based learning, research and innovation, as well as exchange opportunities for students and employees.

The network’s flagship is ECIU University, which is part of the EU’s prestigious focus on European Universities. The initiative received four more years of funding by the EU in 2022.

International mobility thanks to Erasmus +

• ^{The main objective with Erasmus+ employee mobility is to support skills development for employees at higher education institutions and reinforce individual employees’ capacity to work at international knowledge-based companies. Employees at the University of Stavanger can apply for backing from Erasmus+. Grants can be used for attending courses as a guest student, courses and training activities at either a partner institution or another organisation/company abroad.}

• ^{The main objective with ERASMUS+ teaching stays is to help with internationalisation of the education offering in Europe, enhance language skills and cultural awareness and understanding and forge closer ties between education and working life. Academic staff at the University of Stavanger can apply for backing from Erasmus+. Grants can be used for teaching assignments abroad at one of the university’s partner universities, or to invite guest lecturers from companies/organisations abroad to the University of Stavanger for teaching purposes.  The purpose of this is to reinforce the links between education and working life.}

• ^{The Erasmus programme’s ground can also be used to cover travel and subsistence expenses in connection with language courses, regardless of whether this involves improving the general level of language or attending specialised courses.}

The European Association for International Education (EAIE) offers workshops for higher education employees who need skills in respect of internationalisation, strategy and management, networking, languages, supervision of international students, etc. These are arranged as independent courses or at EAIE Academy, a weekly offering involving intensive course activities.

The ECIU network  and the ECIU Staff Mobility Programme give employees the opportunity to acquire skills and experience by means of exchange schemes with other universities in the network.

Employees can also travel on exchange trips to Nordic countries via the NORDPLUS programme’s mobility schemes.

Difi-course

The Norwegian Digitalisation Agency (Difi) offers a range of e-learning courses and other learning initiatives in which employees may participate.