Stringent budgets are blocking the way into the academic system for young researchers. Young academics find that few new posts are becoming available, with the result that the average age of academic staff is rising steadily. Even Hovdhaugen, former dean of the Faculty of History and Philosophy, says that the absence of young academics a great problem. Instead, highly–qualified young academics are leaving academia, and seeking employment in the private sector, as is the case with Dr Marius Wulfsberg (36), who recently completed his PhD in literature, and is about to assume an editorial job at Cappelen. – I loved lecturing, he says, but points out that the wages he was paid as part–time teaching staff simply did not cover the cost of living. – The University can only remain an institution of knowledge if it recruits those who possess new knowledge, he adds.