HiOA seeks university status
Oslo and Akershus University College has discussed becoming a university for years. Now they send in the application.
Rector Curt Rice at Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA) explains that there are two things in particular appealing about a university status.
– We get the authority to create study programs at all levels ourselves, without seeking accreditation. As a university we will therefore get an extended authority over our own study portfolio, says Curt Rice to Universitas.
Moreover Rice believes that the name «college» is an obstacle to the development of the institution. He explains that the term «University College» is unknown or used in other ways internationally.
– It is difficult to establish international cooperation when people do not understand what type of institution we are, says the rector.
Practically a university already
Rice believes HiOA today is a university already, by all international standards.
– If we become a university, there will be some specific demands from the government, but the current profile and character will be like today. For us the application is about getting a proper classification, he says.
– What would you say to critics who believe that school should stick to what it does best?
– I support diversity in all areas, also in education. But at the same time, the terms university and college has been completely watered down in recent years. The government eliminates university colleges in Norway. If the Minister of Education and Research succeeds with his plan, the northernmost university college in the country will be in Molde, except Sami University College, he says.
Rice says that HiOA's profile as an institution with an emphasis on professional education will continue, even should it become a university.
– In short, there is not a big difference between being a university college and a university today, he says.
Trying out different university names
– What difference there will be between the University of Oslo and the «University of Oslo and Akershus»?
– We will continue to focus on professions, such as educating teachers and nurses. HiOA produces more bachelor degrees than anyone else in the country. Our niche is different than the University's, he says.
– What name will you take, if you become a university?
– We try out different names. But we should have a good process, and I will not make assumptions yet, says the headmaster.
Students support the application
The conversation about whether the university college should apply for university status has been ongoing for many years. Nevertheless, leader Christoffer Storm Tiller Alsvik of the student parliament at HiOA was taken by surprise by Tuesday's message.
– The fact that we are applying for university status is not particularly controversial. Not between students and the administration, at least. Students at the college will benefit greatly by having university status, says the student leader.
– Why is university status so important for students?
– The most important thing is the name. We have had students who have completed a bachelor's degree here, and applied to universities abroad, and been told that they are not qualified because they come from a «University College». In the rest of the world this means that education is not science based in the same way as a university. But that's not the case with us, he says.
The Norwegian Profession University
Alsvik emphasizes that it is crucial to protec the bachelor degree and professional education programs, even if HiOA should receive university status.
– Here we have a three-year run then we’re ready for the work life. We must continue with that as a university. Here we have a responsibility both to our students as well as the rest of society, he says.
Today, the division of labour is roughly that the University of Oslo has academic degrees, while HiOA has several programs that are aimed directly at the work life. Alsvik believes this won’t change even if there were to be two universities in the city.
HiOA's name debate has not gone unnoticed by Alsvik. He says he is a fan of the name «The Norwegian Profession University.»
– But we must of course consider different names, he says.
