Nominator
- Johannes S?rby Heines
Election platform
I'm running for election to counteract work overload and strengthen the university democracy. Temporary academic staff are a diverse group. Several of us have international backgrounds, some seek permanent employment at UiO while others will go on to work in other countries, many of us are in a crucial moment of building our careers, and maybe our lives. Representation of such a group requires communication and listening throughout the period.
Overwork: ensuring a sustainable and supportive work environment.
The Ark survey is clear: we are overworked [1]. This is a problem across UiO, and as such should be addressed at all levels. When we're tired and burnt out, our research and teaching suffers: the university has every interest in improving the situation. While concrete action remains mostly the domain of departments, there must also be an overarching effort from the university to ensure action is taken, notably regarding the expectations placed on employees.
It can be especially difficult for temporary staff to say no to additional tasks. After all a favourable recommendation can be crucial for our future career. Academic positions need to accommodate a large range of activities, nevertheless a discussion around which tasks are or are not expected would not be unreasonable.
Additionally, we still need to place a stronger focus on mental health. Everyone must get the support they need to perform their work sustainably. Everyone must know where they can find that support. Academia is collaborative, we shouldn't face its challenges alone.
A real say: strengthening the university democracy.
This election, just like previous years, the election board struggled to find enough candidates [2]. And it seems likely (please prove me wrong) that just as previous years turnout will be similarly low. This is not, I believe, surprising. Rather, it is a result of a consistent lack of communication between us and the university board. In a busy (over)work day, reading (and potentially translating) minutes from the board meetings doesn't rank high on the list of priorities. In a plethora of emails, the passive voice info on the election to the university board of fixed-term academic staff easily slips under the radar.
The university board, its members, the faculties and departments should take on a much more active role in ensuring the university democracy is one in more than name. Employees should have a say not just once a year, but throughout as important topics arise. The representatives should seek the electorate's informed input on relevant topics, enabling real dialogue and true representation.
[1] ARK, In-depth review of the results from the survey for Universitetet i Oslo. (2024) ?
[2] Helene Lindqvist, Etterlyser kandidater til UiO-styrevalget: – Vi strever med dette hvert ?r. Uniforum (2024) ?