Next week, K2’s conference at Solstrand kicks off. This is the second time we are arranging a combined EHS day and strategy seminar for everyone, which was previously organized as separate days and where only the research group leaders were invited to the strategy seminar.

We have put together a program that we hope is of interest and creates curiosity and debate. The four core tasks of our social mission are represented.

In research, we will learn more about how to apply for EU funding and discuss how to better utilize our great research advantage – to be closely linked to Haukeland University Hospital. Dean Per Bakke and CEO Eivind Hansen will initiate a debate. This will also include how to better utilizate our common resource in teaching. The Unit for Learning will present new ideas about exams as a form of learning. This will be put into practice by everyone completing an OSCE exam – it will probably be the highlight of the conference!

The struggle for attention in the public space is getting bigger and bigger and more and more important. A separate session is therefore devoted to research communication.

Innovation is now included in many announcements about funding for research, and we will therefore learn more about what opportunities Eitri has to strengthen innovation in our work. And I want to inform about what has become a new economic reality at K2 and the entire faculty in general and ask for input on how you think we can meet this.

A very important part of all conferences is the social dimension. And now after almost two years of reduced social contact due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will be wonderful to meet and interact with people from the entire institute again!

Well met!

Pål

Head of Department

We are announcing a competition among the research groups for the best website (see details in this week’s K2-nes). The winners will be announced at the strategy seminar at Solstrand. Researchers, journalists, patients and others use our websites to find out about research, teaching and innovation at our department.

What do they find if they look us up today? Overall, pages with major shortcomings. People who no longer work here are posted in group photos, projects are not up to date, there is no English translation, and many items are missing.

We have an enormous potential for improvement – to show a “better face” to the outside world. You and your research group now have the opportunity for a “kick start” and competition against the others. Websites are like vegetables and fruit – they need to be fresh. Former employees must be taken “off the poster”, new ones must appear, news must be published and disseminated.

We simply have to interact with the outside world in a better way

Grap the chance, gather your group and update your pages!

Good weekend, when the time comes

Eystein Husebye
Deputy Director

Bishop Per Lønning had “Finally at Home” as the title of a book he wrote when he was called as bishop in Bjørgvin diocese and returned to Bergen after 18 years in Oslo. After almost 2 years with large and historically unusual restrictions on activity at work and in leisure time due to the coronavirus pandemic, we as UiB employees can now return to our normal workplace on campus – finally “at home”!

As is well known, the government has removed the one-meter rule in teaching for universities and colleges. We must now strive for full physical presence in teaching.

There will no longer be a requirement to facilitate home offices and employers must assess how much home office is right in the individual workplace. Any agreements on the use of a home office during parts of the working hours in the future must be agreed between the manager and the employee. At K2, this authority is delegated to the research group leaders with regard to the scientific staff, and to the Head of Administration (Mia) for the administrative and technical staff. The research group leaders must agree this with the Head of Department (me).

Nevertheless, there is still great contagion pressure in society and high sickness absence. The use of digital meetings and home offices can still be a relevant tool at K2 to prevent many people from becoming ill at the same time and to ensure continuity in work tasks and functions.

As also is well known, there will also no longer be a number limit for indoor events. For events with fixed, designated seats, the distance requirement is removed when sitting on the seat. The organizer shall facilitate that it is possible to keep distance otherwise in the venue or event area.

It will be good to return to normal conditions at work and in leisure time. It feels like being at home again after a long journey.

Have a great weekend!

Pål

Head of Department

Dear all of you!

Do you/your research group/teaching group know someone who has excelled in 2021, either on the research front (publication, research/innovation environment, PhD work, dissemination) or in terms of teaching? The Faculty of Medicine has announced several awards for 2021, so now you have the chance to nominate colleagues/environment (or yourself!). The categories are

• Publication of the Year
• Research group/innovation of the year
• PhD work of the year
• Award for outstanding research dissemination
• Teaching award (There are no specific price categories, but a main price of NOK 150,000 and up to two more awards of NOK 50,000 each are awarded! )

We from K2 can put forward a candidate in each category, so do not hesitate to submit proposals (with justification) by Monday 7 February. More detailed information can be found here  

Proposal for Publication/PhD/Group/Dissemination

Proposal for Teaching awards

We are unfortunately heading into a time of a new financial everyday life. There will be permanent cuts in the basic allocation to our faculty. The framework for the basic allocation for 2021 was 718 MNOK. The reduction in the framework for the faculty from and including 2022 is as much as 50 MNOK.

The reasons for this significant cut are many. A main cause is the reorganization of the pension calculation, which is determined by KUD. In addition, KUD has reduced the allocation to the universities as part of the reorganization of the financial systems and the expectation of streamlining. In addition, there will be increased expenses for UiB due to increased room rent and expected savings due to more use of open access. The faculty takes a large part of the 50 MNOK, but the departments still get a significant cut. This is calculated on the basis of the size of the basic grant, and for some of the amounts this includes BOA. Since K2 is the largest department, we get the biggest cut, twice as much as the other departments. The amount is stipulated to be 6.3 MNOK per year.

Political efforts are being made through various channels to reduce the cuts from KUD. We can hope that this reverses a part of it, but it will still be a new economic everyday life for all universities in Norway.

What to do with this? We must increase revenues and reduce costs by a similar amount. Is this possible? Yes, I think so, but it will be demanding, and everyone must contribute. A main goal is that we should not revoke positions. We will nevertheless increase research, education, innovation and dissemination.

To increase revenue, we must increase the BOA. This is one of K2’s strongest cards. We can do this! But, we must be even better at making good applications and directing them where there is the greatest opportunity for grants. I think there is a great potential in EU funds, and this will be discussed at the 2^nd K2 Retreat at Solstrand February 24-25. We can create courses for continuing education of various professions and make money on these courses. We must help students complete their studies and not drop out. If UiB gets a breakthrough for Vestlandslegen, this will give a boost to our funding.

But we must also cut costs. How can we work better for less money? Area efficiency is a great opportunity. Here we have to think innovatively. My office at the old Department of Pediatrics had approx. 20 shelf meters with binders. All this had to be shrunk to 1 shelf meter when moving to Glasblokkene. It was a demanding exercise, but it worked. The most interesting thing, however, is that after 5 years I have not yet used the papers even in this meter. Some may have a greater need, but most can manage with a PC and an monitor. The laboratories are very important for translation research, but here too we must think new. Much of the research is done on platforms and on a computer today, and it is possible to share bench space with others. In the administration, we must reduce personnel costs. Specialist teams have been introduced. And the introduction of new personnel and finance systems must eventually pay off.

These were some thoughts on how we can cope with the challenging measures and hopefully come out stronger, but I also need good suggestions from you. The first opportunity will be at the 2^nd K2 Retreat. We will have a separate session on the economy there.

Have a great weekend!

Pål