To all teachers at UiB,

The Students’ Health and Well-Being Survey (Studentenes helse- trivselsundersøkelse, SHoT) examines the student’s health and well-being during the course of the study every four years. Here, the students are encouraged to answer honestly about eight different topics related to student life. Some of the questions are about mental and physical health. The survey was sent to the students via email 6 February and is open until 20 March.

Results from the previous SHoT survey in 2014 found that one in five students struggled with severe mental symptoms, and that one in six students was lonely. This contributed to increased focus on mental health. After that, several psychologists have been recruited, and health care has been strengthened.

SHoT2018 can be the world’s largest survey on this subject, but it depends on a high response rate. The target is 69 percent of 160,000 students. Here, all lecturers have a responsibility towards their students. A high level of participation will provide even better follow-up of the students.

We therefore encourage you to spend some time at the beginning of the lectures to tell about the survey and the importance of it.

At the meeting of the Education Committee on Wednesday 21 January, a short version of SHoT2018 was presented. And more information is available on the Sammen Bergen website.

Best regards,
Britt-Karin Muri
Assistant HR Director
HR department
University of Bergen

One of the largest international conferences on teaching and learning in higher education comes to Bergen 24 to 27 October 2018.

This is the annual conference of “The International Society for Scholarship in Teaching and Learning” (ISSOTL), and it collects approximately 500 teachers and researchers from around the world. “Scholarship in Teaching and Learning” is about having a scientific approach to ‘what works’ in teaching and learning, and the theme of this year’s conference is “Toward a learning culture”. It is thus the collegial and cultural aspects of learning and education that will be in the center. This is something that will interest many at UiB and in Norway just now, in the era of Kvalitetsmeldingen.

Here are great opportunities for UiB employees to participate, be inspired, share experiences, meet other teachers or researchers, and promote all the wonderful stuff we do in Bergen to the world. You can contribute with a presentation or poster, and participate in the panel and workshop, or just be a participant. Deadline for submitting abstracts is 1 April.

Read about Call for proposals here.

And more information about ISSOTL18 is available here.

Good news: UiB and some of the faculties are helping with the conference fee. Information on how to apply will be given later. And it will be student grants.

Best regards,
Vigdis Vandvik
Center leader at bioCEED (Centre of Excellence in Biology Education)
BIO – Department of Biology
University of Bergen