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Ola Borten Moe opened the autumn semester at UiA

Minister of Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe opened the academic year at the University of Agder. The Minister traced the lines from the first universities of Europe in the Middle Ages to the modern universities of today, here represented by UiA.

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Minister of Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe opened the autumn semester at UiA. Here at Campus Kristiansand. (Photo: Magnus Nødland Skogedal)

Thousands of students - some fresh from secondary school and others more experienced at the university - met for semester start. The agenda for the students is tightly packed. There are lots of computer programs the new students must get acquainted with - and of course, there are a lot of social events. These first days, many students will make friends for life.

Read more on Semester start for students

A short video from the Semester start

The athmosphere did shine as the sun at Campus Grimstad. Rector Sunniva Whittaker and minister Ola Borten Moe in conversation, in front vice rector for research Hans Kjetil Lysgård. (Photo: Arne Martin Larsen)

The athmosphere did shine as the sun at Campus Grimstad. Rector Sunniva Whittaker and minister Ola Borten Moe in conversation, in front vice rector for research Hans Kjetil Lysgård. (Photo: Arne Martin Larsen)

The speech from Minister Ola Borten Moe as a video:

(The speech in English language: Please choose CC (Closed Captioning) to the right under the videopicture, press the CC-button and choose English)

Semester start at Campus Kristiansand (Photo: Magnus Nødland Skogedal)

Semester start at Campus Kristiansand (Photo: Magnus Nødland Skogedal)

 

 

At home with rector Sunniva Whittaker:

(The video in English language: Please choose CC (Closed Captioning) to the right under the videopicture, press the CC-button and choose English)

 

Rector's speech at semester start

(Video of the speech in Norwegian are coming)

Honorable minister, dear colleagues and, above all, dear new students

Welcome to the start of your studies, and welcome to the University of Agder! This day marks the transition from vacation to everyday life (for me, from lazy days in the garden with my family and friends to busy and exciting days at work). For most of you, however, this day not only marks the end of the vacation, but also a transition from school pupil to university student. This transition is both exciting and liberating but can also be challenging and even a bit daunting. New routines must be established, a new kind of everyday life must be carved out. Your life as a student is characterised by great freedom. That is probably especially welcome now after the years of pandemic, which were characterised by restrictions. As a student, you’ve been able to choose freely what you want to study, and you will be able to organise your days as you see fit to a large extent. There is no school bell and much of the teaching is optional.

With such freedom comes great responsibility - primarily to yourself. Creating a new everyday life, establishing good routines that cover both your short-term and long-term needs and wishes, does not happen on its own. It requires self-discipline. You have to find the right balance between being strict and being kind to yourself. That in itself is an exciting journey where you get to know your strengths and weaknesses. But even if you are in the driving seat and hold the key to how to get a positive academic and social student experience, you should know that you are not alone on this journey.

Here at the University of Agder, we see each individual student as an important member of a knowledge community consisting of students, staff and UiA’s many partners in both the public and private sectors. A community which, for you as a student, entails active participation in teaching and discussions, collaboration with fellow students, and perhaps also being a mentor for next year’s new students or participating in research and innovation projects together with our academic environment. Seize the opportunities you get as a member of this community.

You start your studies at a time when the development of new knowledge is more important than ever. We are in the midst of rapid technological development, and major societal challenges lie ahead. International conflicts feel closer than ever. We have a war in our immediate area, many countries have experienced heat records that affect both health and food crops. The world’s problems may seem overwhelming, and it is easy to feel a sense of hopelessness and uneasiness about what the future will bring. As a new student, it may be difficult to see how you can contribute to creating a better future.

It is through knowledge and commitment that we can find solutions. Each and every one of you, no matter what you study, has the opportunity to make the world a little better with the knowledge and skills you acquire through your studies and the way you choose to apply them.

Studying at a university is not just a preparation for employment - it is also an educational journey - you will grow as a person, have your opinions challenged, learn to get along with people who have different experiences and opinions than your own. To tolerate disagreement, to see that an issue has several sides to it, to be open to having to change your mind are important parts of academic culture and some of the most important things you can carry with you in life. For many of you, this educational journey will involve living in other countries - grab the opportunities you get at UiA to gain international experience!

Today is the first day of a new chapter in life. During the day you will get to meet the subject teachers who will help you on your academic journey, and the people you will study alongside this year and possibly in the years to come. Today, they are unfamiliar faces - soon some of them may be among your closest friends.

My advice to you today is: manage the freedom you have as a student, take responsibility and seize all the fantastic opportunities you get here at UiA to develop yourself as a person and to acquire knowledge and skills that will benefit you as well as society.

 

Good luck as a student at the University of Agder!

Leader of The student organisation at Agder (STA) William Thanoothong Svendsen, minister Ola Borten Moe and rector Sunniva Whittaker at semester start at Campus Grimstad. (Photo: Arne Martin Larsen)

Leader of The student organisation at Agder (STA) William Thanoothong Svendsen, minister Ola Borten Moe and rector Sunniva Whittaker at semester start at Campus Grimstad. (Photo: Arne Martin Larsen)

Speech at semester start by the Leader of The student organisation (STA)

Dear students, welcome to the start of your studies. We are at the start of a new and exciting year here at UiA, and a new chapter in your lives. A chapter that will hopefully not be affected by a pandemic, and where we can finally return to normal student life on our campuses. And you students are the ones who make this possible. Together we will take campus back and fill it with life.

Many of you have moved to southern Norway. And for some of you this is the first time to move away from Mum and Dad, for others this is something you’ve done before. I would like to encourage you to take part in ‘Fadderuka’, the buddy scheme, create connections and make friendships that last a lifetime. Get to know the student activities at UiA or get involved in an academic society and build a network. Because a network is almost as important for the future as the education you are currently taking.

What you will quickly notice is how much time you will spend on campus, and I strongly recommend getting to know campus and using it for all it's worth. As I said earlier, it is incredibly important that we do what we can to take campus back. The pandemic left deep traces on society, and the ones who suffered the most were perhaps the students. The report from the Coronavirus Commission is clear; the students were the biggest losers in the pandemic. We knew this in April 2020, but the government was not willing to listen to us until now - now that the damage has already been done. That is not good enough. We want to be heard, and we are here to stay.

The Storting and the government may have forgotten you, but the Student Organization of Agder has not, and we will always be here for you! Our job will always be to put your needs on the agenda, in the municipality and here at UiA.

You are the future of Norway and not the fossils in the Storting. Through your education, you will contribute to development throughout Norway and not least, develop yourselves.

Last but not least, our international students. I want to welcome all of you to the University of Agder and Norway. It's fantastic seeing more international students here at our campus. I will also highly advise you all to get involved in a student activity and life on campus. I know us Norwegians can be a bit difficult to befriend, but I promise you it is worth the hassle. In the end, I wish you all the best and hope you have an amazing time here at the University of Agder.

Thank you.

More pictures from the semester start:

International - and others - students checked what Global Lounge can offer. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

International - and others - students checked what Global Lounge can offer. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

UiA wishes many new students welcome to their studies. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

UiA wishes many new students welcome to their studies. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

Tonje Nielsen Rørly (left) and Janne Fladstad from the International Office are offering student exchange to other countries. The UiA strategy states it's positive for students to study abroad for one or two semesters.  (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

Tonje Nielsen Rørly (left) and Janne Fladstad from the International Office are offering student exchange to other countries. The UiA strategy states it's positive for students to study abroad for one or two semesters.  (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

UiA employees watched the semester start from the footbruidge, while the students stayed on the campus lawn. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

UiA employees watched the semester start from the footbruidge, while the students stayed on the campus lawn. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

Many students finds new and good friends in the buddy groups at semester start. Here a buddy group are preparing to discover more of Campus Kristiansand - and perhaps what Kristiansand can offer later in the evening. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)

Many students finds new and good friends in the buddy groups at semester start. Here a buddy group are preparing to discover more of Campus Kristiansand - and perhaps what Kristiansand can offer later in the evening. (Photo: Maria van Schoor)