Category: This weeks editorial

Dear everyone!

A lot is happening now in connection with the multi-campus model. This week, a training seminar was held for the new semester board chairs (who in our case are currently also semester group leaders) as well as the deputies and semester coordinators. The new curriculum means that many subjects will have to move and/or change parts of the teaching, and that there will be a number of transitional arrangements. I really appreciate the extensive and good work you all are doing! At the same time, we are facing tighter financial frameworks than before. This means that not all wishes and needs can be met immediately, and that we must be aware of how we organize teaching and allocate our resources. That is precisely why the effort, flexibility and solution-orientation I see you show in this restructuring phase are so important.

And a quick reminder: On Friday 11 September at 11 a.m., the Falch lecture will be given by Ole A. Andreassen "From Genes to Clinic: Precision Medicine Using Scandinavian Population Data". Afterwards (12:30), lunch will be arranged with younger researchers where he will tell a little more about career building – a great opportunity for all younger researchers, so remember to sign up (email to stephanie.lehellard@uib.no)!

Have a great weekend!

Silke

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Dear everyone!
Congratulations on successfully completing OSCE12 yesterday in both Stavanger and Bergen! A large number of scientific, administrative, and technical K2 staff, in collaboration with colleagues across the faculty, made a great effort to ensure that this final exam for medical students was carried out in the best possible way, with good tasks given simultaneously on two campuses for the first 7 Vestlandslegen pilot students in Stavanger and 90 students in Bergen. Next week is OSCE6 for all 209 MED6 students, and in addition, many are working on grading written exams, etc., across the various semesters. A huge thanks to everyone for the important work!
For the 245 in the medical program starting in the fall of 2026, there were very strong application numbers, and a total of 429 students had chosen the latest Bergen/Haugesund model as their first choice. After three years in Bergen, the lucky selected ones will move to Haugesund in the summer of 2029 for the last three years. The first Bergen/Stavanger students who started in the fall of 2024 will move to Stavanger in 2027, while the first Bergen/Førde students who started last year will go to Førde in 2028.
For further academic planning in the multi-campus model, overarching semester boards and local semester groups will be established starting this fall. The leaders of the semester boards will, as before, have permanent representation in the Program Committee for Medicine (PUM). In addition, PUM will have permanent representation from the academic study leaders from the Stavanger, Førde, and Haugesund campuses. A lot of good work is ongoing to ensure a smooth transition to the multi-campus model, with productive discussions and adjustments where needed.
Wishing you a really great weekend!
Camilla

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Dear everyone!

I have had every reason to be proud to be the leader of K2 this week: at yesterday's ceremonial honorary doctorate conferment ceremony, the candidate nominated by K2, Anna Louise Gloyn, was appointed honorary doctor. She has had many years of collaboration with Pål Njølstad and his group.

On Tuesday we received the happy news that two of our SFF applications will advance to the final, led by Pål Njølstad/Marc Vaudel (Center for Early-Life Diabetes Mechanisms) and Eystein Husebye/Anette Wolff (Centre for Reciprocal Rhythms in Immunology, Somnology and Endocrinology). Congratulations, it is very nice that both applications from the Faculty of Medicine that advanced to the final are from K2! And to those who did not advance: do not give up, I really appreciate the effort you have made. Maybe there are some opportunities to apply for NFR FRIPRO with parts of the application instead? It is still possible to apply for application support for that via the link that appears when you click on "read more" at the bottom. The deadline is May 24. Funds for applying to NFR FRIPRO (deadline 24.5.26).

Finally, I just want to remind you of the institute meeting on Thursday 28 May at 10-11:30 Auditorium 1 BBB, where we will get to know the finance working group and everyone has the opportunity to provide input.

(NOTE - click on "Read more" for links)

Have a really good weekend!

Silke

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Dear everyone!

A lot is happening at the moment, so this will be a slightly longer leader this time. We had a very nice good-bye party for Mia on Wednesday, it was very nice that there were so many who participated. Thank you so much to Mia for everything she has done for K2! And then I would like to welcome our new acting head of administration Eirik Rekve Thorsheim. He has an office on the 8th floor of the lab building and has started on Monday. We will take a tour of the department in the next few days so that he can get to know our employees (at least in Bergen, the trips to Stavanger, Førde and Haugesund will come).

Nina had already mentioned that the faculty, together with the department management, has appointed a financial working group, coordinated by Rolf Reed. A general meeting will be held for the entire department on May 28 at 10-11:30, Auditorium 1 BBB, I hope that as many employees as possible participate and provide input.

Remember to register your holiday! The deadline to register the main holiday was 1 May, but there are still many who have not applied for the holiday. Remember that it must be agreed with your immediate manager.

UiB is concerned that the number of applications to NFR FRIPRO has decreased and has therefore distributed some funds for application support. The condition is that the application is submitted by 2026. Otherwise, there are no guidelines on what the funds can be used for, but the project must be placed at K2 in order to be able to request application support. The link to the skjemaker becomes visible when you click on "read more".

And last, but not least: Congratulations to all the award winners on the faculty day, and special congratulations to our award winners from K2: Nina Langeland (Falch senior award), Jan-Inge Bjune (publication of the year) and Jon Andsnes Berg and Trond Trætteberg Serkland (education award). I'm proud to have such good people around me!

Have a great weekend!

Silke

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Thank you and farewell!

Dear K2 colleagues,
There is a time for everything, and for me, my time at UiB is now coming to an end. As most of you know, I am retiring, and my last day at the office at K2 will be Wednesday, 6 May.
I have therefore been given the opportunity to write this week’s editorial in K2Nytt, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and goodbye. I have been employed at UiB for 10 years, and what strikes me most is how quickly these years have passed. I started as a project economist in a temporary position in K2’s finance department. This was meant to last one year, but eventually became permanent.

These five years have been interesting, fun, but at times also very demanding. There have been both ups and downs, but I can say that there has not been a single dull day. One of my mottos is that you can always learn something new and that in this way you both change and develop. I have had the opportunity to work with a competent collection of administrative, technical and scientific colleagues and I am grateful for that. I have felt pride every morning when I hang my access card around my neck and walk through the central block together with everyone who is going to their workplaces at the hospital or at the university. Then I feel the pride of being a part of this; the socially beneficial work we do in education, research and dissemination.

When one door closes, another opens, they say. I am now closing the "UiB door" and it is absolutely the right thing to do now.

K2 still has challenges ahead and much of this has to do with finances. It has improved year by year and it won't be long until K2 is in balance. I wish everyone good luck going forward, keep fighting and remember that people are the most important resource. I don't know how many of you have seen "Team Pølsa" on NRK, but I'll end with the words of the young but wise participant Benjamin (he from Gulen); "We have to talk to each other and be kind to each other."

Thank you and farewell!

PS! There will be coffee and cakes on Wednesday, May 6th at 1:00 PM on the 5th floor of the lab building for those who have the opportunity to drop by.

Best regards
Mia

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Dear colleagues at K2,

To my own and others' surprise, I am for a period part of the management team at K2. For those who don't know me, I am an infectious disease specialist by background, and I have shared positions between K2, the Medical Clinic at Haukeland, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. I am the head of REK Vest, and a member of the national investigation committee for research misconduct, and I am also the chairman of the board of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at NTNU. 

One issue that will be important going forward is to get K2 into financial balance, without this affecting teaching and research. There is a lot of speculation about how we have gotten here, and also what can be done. Do we have too many or too few permanent employees? Do we have too many or too few core facilities? Do we have too much or too little administrative support? The faculty, together with the department management, has appointed a group that will look at our cards, but also ask us what and how. The group, which will be coordinated by Rolf Reed, will ask for input from employees at K2, we hope to have an input meeting in June.

The institute is on the right track, in 2027 we will be in the black, and I know that there are many who think that they and the academic communities have contributed to this. And that is absolutely right, there are many who have contributed to us being able to achieve balance.

I am optimistic that we will make this happen.

Have a really good weekend!

Nina

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