Ann-Kristin Helland Gujord
Main content
Academic staff should and must have a clear voice in the highest governing body at our workplace. I aim to be such a voice for all students and staff at UiB.
As a board representative, I will work to ensure that UiB continues to be a predictable workplace. The economic conditions have changed, and higher education faces challenges in adapting. In such times, it is even more important that we, as employees, contribute to creating good and secure management of our workplace. Necessary restructuring processes must be transparent and grounded from the bottom up, not just top-down. It is also important to ensure that it will still be possible to recruit new researchers to permanent positions.
I am concerned with how the university may contribute to positive societal development. High-quality research has its own channels for dissemination. However, when relevant, it is important to ensure that our research reaches beyond the boundaries of the sector itself. There is great need for research-based knowledge and education in both the private and the public sectos. In the future, it is important that UiB exploits the potential that lies in collaborating with actors outside the university. Courses in continuing and further education will likely become even more important for the economy of several faculties. In this field, I have extensive experience, and as a board member, I will contribute to ensuring that the strong competence at UiB also reaches relevant actors outside the sector.
I envision a UiB that reflects the diversity found in society, in the student body and in the administrative and academic staff. The university will contribute to creating an inclusive society by working to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds feel at home and have equal opportunities to complete their studies. A diverse staff with different backgrounds and experiences will promote innovation and attractive working environments.
My educational path has gone from general teacher education with an MA and later PhD in Norwegian as a second language at UiB. Today, I am a professor of Norwegian as a second language and part of a small but traditional academic environment. A recurring theme in my research is developing knowledge about the conditions for citizenship and participation for migrants. I manage an RCN-funded research project and am among the researchers who developed the Centre for Norwegian as a Language for Special Purposes, which recently received funding from the RCN. I have extensive experience in developing educational programmes at the intersection of academic and practical fields. I have participated in public debates on issues related to language in a migration perspective.
I have relevant experience from board positions, most recently from the faculty board at the Faculty of Humanities in 2017-2021. I learned the importance of being well-prepared to have a critical eye and influence important processes. I will be attentive to others' perspectives on the issues before the board, and I will invite colleagues to contact me to express their views and provide input on issues being discussed on the board.
听
