The June meeting was held at Campus Grimstad and began with the four chief staff representatives for UiA’s employees presenting their key recommendations to the University Board.
Among other things, they highlighted the importance of striking a balance between resources and ambitions, the need to provide staff with AI skills, concerns about the consequences of an increased number of managers in the shared services, and this autumn’s pay negotiations.
The chief staff representatives warned that staff expectations regarding pay rises this autumn could be too high due to the information being circulated regarding the so-called ‘frontline sectors’.
The framework is 4.4 per cent, but in the public sector, both wage drift within the public sector and the carry-over from last year’s increase up to 1 May must be deducted.
The framework for negotiations in the public sector is therefore 2.7 per cent. The chief union representatives believe there are good reasons for the University Board to add extra funds to the negotiation pot.
Later, during the closed part of the meeting, the Board decided to authorise the University Director to add up to 2 million kroner.
Further information on the pay negotiations at UiA will be provided to staff after the summer.
Monitoring ‘red’ degree programmes
As part of the quality assurance work relating to UiA’s degree programmes, the faculties and teacher training programmes produce annual reports detailing their status. Key figures – including the number of applicants, the number of enrolled students and the number of students who complete their degree – are assigned a ‘green’, ‘yellow’ or ‘red’ status. These figures are assessed alongside other factors when UiA decides whether to discontinue degree programmes.
At the meeting, the programme portfolio for the 2027–2028 academic year was approved, with no closures.
The University Board nevertheless expects the faculties to monitor programmes with a red status, particularly Applied Philosophy and Community-Based Nutrition, which are due to be reassessed in 2027.
Millions allocated in revised budget
The Board considered the updated budget for 2026. NOK 29 million was allocated to 36 different initiatives.
Noen utvalgte tildelinger:
- Some selected allocations:
- Initiatives to boost student activity on the campuses – NOK 2 million
- Dedicated AI tutor for students as part of the Skrivestua service at both campuses – NOK 1.6 million
- Increase in project development funding for research applications – NOK 1.3 million
- Project manager for a new admissions system – 1.85 million kroner
- Strengthening efforts on labour market inclusion in NAV’s ‘Flere i arbeid’ programme – 450,000 kroner
- Digital immersion room at Campus Grimstad for practice-oriented education, particularly in health sciences – 2 million kroner
- Upgrading of display screens in UiA’s largest lecture theatres, C2-036 in Grimstad and B1-018 in Kristiansand – NOK 2 million
- Equipment for a new firewall for IT security – NOK 4 million
- Establishment of classrooms in the psychology pavilion – NOK 1.35 million
- Conversion of a classroom so that it can be used as a mock courtroom for law students – NOK 600,000
- Two electric vans for the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences and the Faculty of Arts – NOK 1.4 million
Amendments to the election regulations
The election for Rector at the University of Agder is approaching. The current Rectorate, led by Rector Sunniva Whittaker, has one year remaining of its term of office.
Questions have previously been raised regarding which electoral constituency staff in academic positions at the university library should belong to. It has now been clarified that they belong to the electoral constituency for staff in research and teaching posts.
At the meeting in September, the University Director will present a proposal regarding the competence requirements to be set for candidates for the Rector and Pro-Rector posts.
Other selected matters
- The merit scheme for teaching staff at UiA has been evaluated. Among other things, a pedagogical academy for meritorious teaching staff is now to be established
- The Board was presented with the accounts for the first four-month period
- A consultation has taken place regarding the representation of temporary staff in academic posts on the faculty boards. The faculties wish to retain this representation
- The Board received a half-yearly report on the work on UiA’s annual plan for 2026