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A voice for a diverse administration

Adviser Thomas Eikeland Fiskå, Division of Communication:

- If we are to develop an efficient, diverse and robust higher education sector and research system, we must start with our employees. I know the administration and the organisation well and want to be involved in deciding how to get the best out of everyone.

Thomas Eikeland Fiskå (photo)

CANDIDATE: Thomas Eikeland Fiskå  is a candidate from the technical and administrative staff constituency in the Board election this spring.

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Why are you standing for election?

After working at UiA for over eleven years, I have had the pleasure of working with all the administrative divisions as well as the academic faculties at the university. I have gotten to know the organisation while providing research, education and dissemination support. This is how I have been able to see and contribute to the way the university works. To me, sitting on the board is a continuation of this, by being involved and participating where the big decisions are made, and which governs us all. Those who know me know that I deliver and am accountable and approach tasks with positivity and commitment. I know the organisation and think I can make good decisions on behalf of UiA.

What are the 3 most important issues you want to fight for in the next four years?

 

Staff development:

- If we are to develop an efficient, diverse and robust higher education sector and research system, we must start with our employees, our largest budget item. Everyone who works here needs professional and personal development, whether they are in academic administration, IT security, daily operations, or communication.

- Our colleagues in academic positions have a career ladder they can climb. The path of career progression is clear. What opportunities do you have as administration staff? It depends on who you ask. The development agreement states that UiA must have sufficient administrative capacity to carry out projects in a way that helps researchers to focus on delivering high-quality research. The need for a competent and responsible administration has never been greater.

- I believe that employees who leave should not necessarily be replaced directly. Perhaps someone else in the department would like to take over some of their duties? In that way, new vacancies can be advertised based on future competence requirements and needs. A skills strategy for the administration at the faculties and in the central administration is required for the university to be prepared for the future. If we are to deliver high-quality research outcomes and excellence in teaching, the administrative staff should be further professionalised so that systems, procedures, and experience can provide gains in efficiency and quality.

- I also want job rotation to be a real alternative which should not mean a pay decrease.

- Diversity also includes age. I want a policy that gives an extra pay rise to those who stay at UiA for a long period of time. It will help to close the gap to new employees who are offered higher starting salaries. The current practice means that those who have worked for a long time may see their pay lag behind.

- We should ambitiously recruit new employees, but not post adverts for lower-level administrative positions requiring a master's degree. This will lead to an imbalance between actual duties and salary levels.

Prioritising creates distinctiveness:

- Many employees may worry when budgets change and the economy is strained. In such a situation, it is more important than ever to communicate clearly about the changes and where the university is going. We already know that we must prepare for lifelong learning, and that changes in the labour market and the need for skilled workers will challenge us.

- The university’s brand positioning and visibility is an important part of my work. The competition between higher education institutions is getting fiercer. I want UiA to be a competitive university in Norway, and in the world, in the years to come. We must be distinctive, and we must be the preferred university for study, work and research and education collaboration. We can't be the best at everything. But we have strong potential for becoming great at many things.

Must prioritise services:

- It is important that academic staff feel that resources are available and sufficient. Tasks cannot be delegated to the faculties without providing additional funds. This would be at the expense of quality. We are mutually dependent on each other.

- The administration should be for all, and we need to find better solutions and make the necessary re-prioritisation to fund our services. The Ministry of Education aims to simplify and reduce the bureaucracy in our sector. Many of our joint services are invoiced internally. This means that tasks are not strategically prioritised. The result is that the faculties, units and projects with the largest budgets receive the most support. The level of knowledge in different parts of the organisation varies as to how internal invoicing is done, which means that many people have a negative first encounter with the joint services. I want to remove such obstacles.

- I believe that those of us in technical and administrative positions must stand together if we are to provide the best possible services to the rest of the organisation, and prioritise in line with our strategy, vision and values. We may have to move some funds or organise ourselves a little differently to make it happen. I believe it is worth spending time and money on getting us all going in the same direction.

 What qualities/competencies do you have that make you stand out?

- I am good at seeing connections and communicating, have an extensive network and broad general knowledge. I take initiative and like to find good solutions. I have been working with all parts of UiA and have led several projects. Many would describe me as forthcoming and as someone who takes responsibility. I am good at inspiring people and speaking on behalf of others. I am easy-going and approachable, and I am used to working with different industries and sectors.

Education:

  • 2021-01 - 2021-05: University of Agder - Project management
  • 2013-02 - 2013-05: BI Business School - Social media
  • 2004-08 - 2007-07: University of Agder (UiA) - Bachelor in Multimedia Engineering and Design
  • 2001-08 - 2004-07: Møglestu Secondary School - Drawing, shape and colour

Work experience:

  • 2015-09 - present: University of Agder, Division of Communication - Adviser/Coordinator (100%)
  • 2012-01 - 2015-08: University of Agder, Section for student recruitment - Adviser (100%)
  • 2008-10 - 2012-12: Barlind Solutions AS - Creative responsible web and application designer (100%)
  • 2007-09 - 2008-10: Pixelwave AS - Web development and design (100%)
  • 2007-07 - 2007-09: Trimtex - Sublimation design (100%)
  • 2004-12 - 2004-12: Monster AS - Camera assistant: Nordic Music Awards (2004), Idol finale (2006) and Gullruten (2006)

Board and organisational experience:

  • 2022-08 - present: Head of the communications group for the new student house, BARE
  • 2022-10 - present: Parent representative in FAU-Oddemarka School
  • 2022-03 - 2023-01: Safety representative at UiA
  • 2017-08 - present: Kongsgård/Vige-Vel - Board member
  • 2016-03 - present: Ungt entreprenørskap, Position - Judge
  • 2017-09-2020-12: Safety representative for the Division of IT and the Division of Communication
  • 2006-01-2013-12: Lillesands Da`ene - Board member
  • 2004-01-2007-12: Landvik congregation - Youth leader
  • 2006-02-2006-02: Lillesand Film Festival - Judge
  • 2005-01-2006-01: Aksjon Flyktning, Position - Youth leader
  • 2005-01-2005-12: TV A / Tv Norges, Verv - Program presenter
  • 2004-01-2004-05: Møglestu Secondary School, Verv - Editor
  • 2001-01-2001-02: Soul Survivor and Message Trust - Home rehabilitation in Manchester

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Thomas Eikeland Fiskå is an adviser and design coordinator in the Division of Communication. See his UiA profile here.

His candidacy was put forward by colleagues in the constituency. They are:

Four years

The constituency of technical administrative employees at UiA has one representative and two deputies on the University Board. They are elected for four years at a time, with a term of office from 1 August 2023.

The current representative for the constituency is Senior Adviser Målfrid Tangedal. The deputy representative is Senior Adviser Kristin Skoglund Robstad.