Spring is coming early this year and I have no doubt that I dislike the fact that winter is on the retreat. Big change this year compared to what we are used to in Western Norway. Changes are something we are also experiencing in the UiB context. The challenges are clear in terms of finances and organization and many are worried about the consequences for both education and research. On the Stavanger campus, this week we had a meeting in a joint education council between the faculty of UiB and SUS, led by Vice Dean Marit Øylo. Clinic managers from SUS, coordinators and management from the medical faculty meet there and discuss matters relevant to both the Westland physician and practice students (2015). SUS will move all somatic day care activities to the new SUS on 16/11. Then both practice and education activities will have to be adapted – a lot of logistics and new considerations to take. We believe that this unique experience for the students can also have unique learning value. Recruitment for positions and the development of Campus Stavanger will continue to be important (as part of the new multi-campus model). The new hospital will provide better conditions for both UiB employees and students – we are looking forward to it. The opportunities for cooperation in both education and research between the hospitals are increasing – we must take advantage of that!
Have a good winter – or spring – or whatever it will be this year

Best,

Svein skeie

The report “Health Industry Export”, prepared by Menon Economics with input from several stakeholders, including LO, NHO, Abelia, IKT-Norge, the Norwegian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (LMI), the Directorate of Health, the Research Council of Norway, and the Oslo Cancer Cluster, was published recently.

While there are signs of increased revenue, employment, and exports within this sector, there is a negative trend in R&D investments, industrial production, and general investments. The profitability of the health industry has weakened in recent years. The pharmaceutical industry accounts for 74 percent of the health industry’s total exports, but a few large pharmaceutical companies represent a major share.

The pharmaceutical industry is an example of an R&D-intensive sector, and the report reveals challenges such as declining use of NRC SkatteFUNN and fewer patents. The number of SkatteFUNN projects, which are intended to stimulate increased R&D in the business sector, has fallen by 17% from 2021 to 2023.

Meanwhile, researchers in Norwegian academic institutions are beginning to feel the economic tightening affecting the sector. The 2024 report from the Research Association’s survey detailing employees’ experience clearly shows researchers’ concerns that the lack of investment in the field will result in weakened research quality and reduced innovation potential. They fear less time and energy for actual research activities, applying for external funding, and not least for the creative process of coming up with new ideas. Innovation is a surplus phenomenon that requires energy, time, and forums that facilitate interdisciplinary meetings. Outcomes may take time to materialize, and will not be visible in the next annual report.

Against this background, the findings in the Menon report may not be so surprising. The gap between ambitions and conditions becomes apparent. Perhaps the new situation will drive innovation according to the saying “necessity is the mother of invention”. Innovative approaches can be part of the solutions to present challenges in and of themselves. It remains to be seen how the sector will adapt to the new realities, but it is clear that both challenges and opportunities are ahead.

Dear everyone,

I hope everyone is updated on the fact that the faculty has set up a working group led by Frode Berven (head of the Department of Biomedicine) that will propose measures to reduce the faculty’s total land use (campus Bergen) by at least 10%. Here it is important to find contiguous areas we can give up. Our representative in the working group is Lars Herfindal, feel free to make suggestions to him.

As written before, K1 and K2 have already begun the process of densification and are now in the process of vacating some areas that the hospital will take over. Saved rent and operating costs benefit K1 and K2 directly.

A small update on technician mapping: now it is time for research group and core facility leaders to fill in a questionnaire (deadline 23.2.25). After the winter holidays, we will invite them to dialogue meetings, and then we will continue these talks with the technicians. All information for technicians can be found on the teams channel that has been created, so remember to go in there and check regularly.

All our associate professors and professors (at least 50%) as well as researchers/postdocs who are PI have to participate in the BOA workshops after the winter holidays, registration link will be sent out soon.

And last but not least: Congratulations to Stian Knappskog who has been awarded a NFR grant!

Have a great weekend!

Silke

Dear all,

A lot of important work is currently underway to coordinate the 2015 model for medical studies and the Western Norway MD pilot into one common study model for medical education in Western Norway. Many are and more will be involved in a broad survey to find the best possible feasible solution to ensure good medical education throughout Western Norway.
In the new multi-campus model, all medical students will be gathered here in Bergen for the first three years of their studies, while for the last three years, the students will be distributed between Bergen, Stavanger, Førde and Haugesund. The students will then receive all practical training and teaching in the same place. The same subjects will be covered in the same part of the programme, which will make it possible to provide good collaboration with good synergies. At the same time, local adaptations are crucial.

Patient contact through courses and, not least, practice in hospitals and in the primary health service is emphasised, as this is of great importance in order to be able to take on the role of doctor in a good way. As in all education of health personnel, it is crucial to have close collaboration between the hospital/health axis and the university axis. Together we are strong! The hospitals in the Western Norway as well as the primary health service are central in the planning work for adjusting the medical programme to a common multi-campus model.

This autumn, the first 20 students who will take the last three years of their medical studies in Førde will start, and they will go to Førde in the autumn of 2028. In Stavanger, the first students are now at the 4th and 5th year of study in the Vestlandslegen, and this is in parallel with the continuation of the 2015-model practice which will gradually be scaled down and will in the spring of 2027 have been transferred to Bergen in its entirety.

All good input to ensure the best possible education of doctors in Western Norway is welcome!

I wish you all a really good weekend!

Camilla

Dear everyone!

This year is a super election year for us: there will be elections for a new rector’s office, university board, faculty board and department council. This is an important opportunity for students and staff to influence decisions that shape our academic environment.

First up is the rector election (24-27 March 2025). There are 2 rector candidates, each with their own team, standing for election: current rector Margreth Hagen with a new team consisting of Pro-Rector Sigrunn Eliassen, Kjell-Morten Myr (Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Infrastructure) and Kristoffer Chelsom Vogt (Vice-Rector for Research and Internationalisation); and Lise Øvreås, who is running for election with Pro-Rector candidate Endre Tvinnereim, Marit Øilo (Vice-Rector for Education), Anne K. Bang (Vice-Rector for Internationalisation) and Karsten Specht (Vice-Rector for Innovation and Infrastructure).

The next election will be the election of new members to the University Board (the election period is 2-7 May 2025). Here the election is for

• • • two members and at least 2 deputy members of and among group A (permanent employees in academic positions)
    • one member and at least 2 deputy members of and among group B (temporary staff in an academic position)
    • one member and at least 2 deputies of and among group C (technical and administrative staff).

How to submit proposals for members to the University Board

• The proposal must be signed by at least the same number of proposers as the number of candidates the proposal contains (groups A, B and C each constitute their own constituency). No one can sign more than one proposal.
• The proposed candidates must be eligible and asked if they wish to stand for election
• Candidates must understand Norwegian
• The proposal will be sent to valgstyret@uib.no by 5 March at 12.00 noon.

In June, the elections will be held for the Faculty Board and the Department Council.

The deadline for proposals for members (groups A, B and C) is set for Friday 4 April 2025 at 3 pm (applies to both the faculty board and the department council)

Proposals should be sent/delivered to the Election Committee’s secretary, Gjert Bakkevold, Faculty Secretariat (Amauer Hansen’s House 4th floor, room 416).

In order for a proposal to be legally submitted, the following requirements apply:

• The proposal must be in writing.
• A proposal for a candidate for a governing body must be submitted by at least the same number of proposers as the number of candidates the proposal contains.
• A proposer cannot propose himself or herself as a candidate.
• Those proposed must be eligible for election.
• If a candidate is proposed who can claim exemption from election, the proposal must be accompanied by written consent from the person in question.
• No one can sign more than one proposal.

Have you ever thought about running for election to the University Board, the Faculty Board or the Department Council? Being part of the University Board, Faculty Board, or Department Council gives you a unique opportunity to influence important decisions and help shape the future of your academic environment. By running for office, you can represent your fellow students or colleagues, promote their interests, and work to improve the university. It is a valuable experience that can provide you with insights, networks, and skills that will be useful in your further career. Take the chance, get involved, and help make a difference! Your voice and your commitment are important.

And even if you do not want to stand for election, it is important to participate in these elections, so that you help ensure that the university is led by people who represent your interests and values. Therefore, it is important that you exercise your right to vote and actively participate in the university elections. Your voice can make a difference!

And last but not least: Congratulations to the award winners of the research presentations from the Research School in Clinical Medicine!

• Aishwarya Pavithram (1st prize oral presentations);  PhD candidate K2
• Gonzalo Nido (postdoc award oral presentations) researcher, K1
• Jenny Lindroos (2nd prize oral presentations) PhD candidate K1
• Anne Mari Syversen (3rd prize oral presentation) PhD candidate K1
• Harini Pechiappan (People’s Prize) PhD candidate K2
• Thea Sjøgren (postdoc award poster) postdoc Helse Bergen (Bergithe Oftedal accepted the award on her behalf)
• Adrianna Jebrzycka; 1st prize poster PhD candidate K2
• Brit Ellen Rød (2nd prize poster) PhD candidate K1
• Camilla Ekanger (3rd prize poster) PhD candidate K1

Have a great weekend!

Silke

Dear everyone!

Now we are embarking on a new chapter at K2: Together with K1, we have gathered areas in the laboratory building that will be transferred to the Laboratory Clinic at the hospital. This will save the faculty from rental expenses that “K3” will have added to its budgets, and in addition, the departments will save operating costs that are paid directly by the departments. This means that some research groups will have to move a little closer to each other, which hopefully will have a positive effect such as joint projects in the future.

In addition, we will have a mandatory workshop with Kristine Tangen for all our PIs (i.e. associate professors/professors in a main position and postdocs/researchers with their own projects) to gain more understanding of our finances. A registration link will be sent out soon, there will be several possible dates to sign up for.

And last but not least: Remember to nominate for the faculty’s awards! Link to the research awards can be found here, and to the teaching awards here. The deadline is 1.2.2025

Have a great weekend!

Silke

I will continue to work in 2025 to ensure that we have a good time at K2, both in terms of getting the economy in balance, but not least in terms of well-being. By showing consideration and respect, we contribute to a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated to do their best. And we should use all opportunities to brag about each other: Everyone can submit proposals for the faculty’s awards (teaching and research). For the education awards, the faculty wants nominations to come from groups, not individuals. We from the K2 leadership team are happy to receive suggestions here, with an internal deadline set for February 1, 2025. For the research awards (best publication, best doctoral degree, researcher/research group, dissemination and innovation), it is the departments that can nominate one candidate in each category (except PhD work, where we can nominate two candidates). Proposals can be submitted here, with an internal deadline set for 1 February 2025.

With this in mind, a happy story at the end that I just by coincidence got to know: Jone Trovik has received the award for best lecturer throughout medical studies from class 18B.

Congratulations!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow!

Silke