A new survey shows that the ministry has the lowest score of 81 departments and organizations when the population is asked who is the best on «social responsibility».

2008-11-05 På norsk

In competition with 81 public departments, the Ministry of Education and Research (KD) has scored very low in several categories:

• 79th place on «overall impression»
• 78th place on «competence»
• 81st place on «social responsibility»

The statistics emerged in an article in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten on «Synovate’s profile survey 2008».

It costs to say no

Political Advisor at KD, Kyrre Lekve (SV), can imagine what the reasons for the result might be.

- There are probably two reasons why we have done so badly: There has been a negative debate regarding the school system for a long time. KD is blamed for the schools not doing well. In addition to this, it is often the ministry’s job to say no, and this can contribute to unpopularity.

- Do you care about the result?

-We do care about doing so badly, but it is more important for us that people have a good impression of the schools and universities. The ministry is not the most vital thing, the reality of what people actually come face to face with is.

- Do you not think that the survey is connected to how people view the minister?

- I do not think that this has anything to do with it. It is about the ministry’s role, the fact that we must say no, stick to the rules, and that things sometimes take a long time.

-Will the ministry do anything to ensure that it becomes more popular among the general public?

-The most important thing we do is work for improved schools, universities and research. At the end of the day, this is what indicates how well the department is doing, Lekve states.

BI and NIH do well

The BI Norwegian School of Management has experienced a slight decline in the polls. On «overall impression», BI is in 23rd place, according to information manager Nordan Helland. Last year the institution was in 19th place.

According to Synnovate, the decline in the reputations of the educational institutions is due to negative publicity when the national budget for 2008 was being processed.

Rector at BI, Tom Colbjørnsen, thinks it strange that BI, which was accredited as a scientific university college this spring, has experienced a decline in the polls.

- This drop for BI is connected to the negative development for educational institutions in general. [BI’s own] results are good, and this decline in reputation is therefore surprising, Colbjørnsen says.

The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) is pleased, however:

«It is nice to see that we have come out on top among institutions of higher learning in Norway (scientific university colleges and universities). We were also pleased with coming in 14th on the list as a whole in the «overall impression» category», writes information manager Karen Christensen on NIH’s website.

The survey’s top five in the «overall impression» category:

• 1. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute
• 2. KRIPOS
• 3. The Consumer Ombudsman
• 4. The Norwegian Consumer Council
• 5. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority

The survey’s bottom five in the «overall impression» category:

• 77. The Norwegian Agricultural Authority
• 78. UDI
• 79. The Ministry of Education and Research
• 80. The Norwegian National Rail Administration
• 81. The Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion

• Approximately 1000 Norwegians over the age of 15 have voiced their opinions on 81 departments and organizations.

Robin Røkke Johansen • Translated by Anna Young