Reduced budgets for scientific equipment and a no increases in student numbers. These are among the suggestions on how the University of Oslo UiO is going to deal with the state budget.

In the state budget for 2010 that was presented last Tuesday, there was no allocation of the extra millions the UiO management had counted on, prompting the university to save between 20 and 35 million kroner the next year.

During the university management meeting last Thursday student representative Mari Mame suggested to sharpen the cuts rather than spreading them thin.

- We have to show that we wish to prioritize rather than use the «cheese slicer method». A sharpening and specification of the cuts will strike hard on specific parts of the university, which is sad and painful, but that is how it has to be, says Mamre. She stresses that previous savings have been spread out and that has often affected lectures and tutorials.

Less scientific equipment

Cuts in the purchasing of scientific equipment were suggested as a solution. Mamre thinks this is a good solution.

- Of course, it is sad for those people the cuts affect, but the quality of teaching is at least spared. It is a good suggestion for an immediate action, but if we get some long-lasting plans on the table we wouldn’t have to deal with this is in the future, says Mamre.

The Faculty of Dentistry is one of the university units with high spending costs on scientific equipment. Dean Pål Brodin does, however, not wish to comment on the suggestion of cuts in the amount of equipment.

- Nothing is decided yet. The meeting last week was a bit vague, and I want to comment this later when we have discussed it in the coming meetings and when the suggestions are presented properly, says Brodin.

Rector at the University of Oslo, Ole Petter Ottersen, does not want to answer directly on questions about how the cuts should be carried out.

- It is too early to say something about this. We haven’t yet decided if we will cut the faculty budgets. We might end up cutting investment plans that have already been approved.

Wants to avoid cuts in teaching

The student representatives, rector Ottersen and director of economy, Marianne Mancini, nonetheless agree that cuts in the teaching offer should be avoided to a large degree.

- We have to do what we can to give good offers to the students. In practice this has turned out to be difficult since the expenses to teachers and lecturers is one of the few points where an expense adjustment can be carried out. It’s better to make changes structurally, but it takes more time. We would like to intensify the work, says Mancini.

In doubt about new places of study

In the state budget the university also received ear marked grants for an increase in the amount of students, grants that student representative Mamre feels should be drawn back.

- These new student places are not fully financed, and that will cause further expenses for the university. We should say that a realization of these student places is out of the question, she says.

Ole Petter Ottersen thinks it is too early to draw conclusions on how the university management will deal with the new places of study.

- We do not have the full overview on where these places will be. We will act in a manner of solidarity to society and the need for more educated people, but we also have to act in a manner of solidarity toward the present students, who are already within the system, says Ottersen.

The president of the university has already received some critique after the state budget was presented. During last spring’s election campaign he presented his abilities to negotiate and achieve better economical terms for higher education. He claims that the interest in the discussion about the financing of the university can have been a positive influence on this year’s budget. He also believes in influencing next year’s budget.

- We have an action committee who is to present their conclusions in February and we expect these conclusions to affect next year’s budget, Ottersen concludes.

Vegard Tjørhom • Translated by Ingrid F. Brubaker