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Elections?at the?University of Oslo

Staff and students at the University of Oslo elect representatives to Faculty Boards, Department Boards and the University Board. The Rector and Pro-Rector, Deans and Heads of Department are also elected at the University of Oslo. Some departments have appointed Heads of Department, but the election of the Heads of Departments are not subject to these election regulations.

Current regulations

Elections at the University of Oslo are based on the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges (lovdata.no), and detailed provisions on the conduct of elections at the University of Oslo, voting rights and eligibility, etc. are set out in the University of Oslo’s electoral regulations (in norwegian) adopted by the University Board.

Who is entitled to vote at the University of Oslo

Both staff and students are entitled to vote at the University of Oslo. The main rule is that salaried staff working at least 50% of full-time hours are entitled to vote, as do Adjunct Professors. Whether you are an employee or a student on the day on which you cast your vote determines your right to vote.

About voting rights for external doctoral candidates:

If you are a doctoral candidate with a valid admission to a doctoral programme in the student register, you are generally not entitled to vote unless:

You are employed temporarily. In this case, you belong to the “temporary academic staff” voting rights category.
You are registered as a student for the semester and so are entitled to vote as a student. Your semester fee does not have to have been paid; you just have to be registered as a student.

Voting Rights Group

The right to vote is counted according to different counting categories in elections. Your voting rights group has an impact on the counting of your vote when electing representatives to the boards at the university, faculty and department level. This means that only permanent academic staff can vote when electing representatives for permanent academic staff, for example. Similarly, only staff and students who belong to the faculty or department in question can vote in faculty and department elections. All voting rights groups are entitled to vote in Rector elections.

Who can stand for election at the University of Oslo

You can stand for election if you are a salaried employee working at least 50% of full-time hours, or are an Adjunct Professor, at the unit conducting the election. Your employment must cover the entire election period. The position you hold on the day you vote will also determine whether you are entitled to vote.

There are separate regulations regarding eligibility for management positions. See the provisions in the University of Oslo’s electoral regulations, Section 8 (in norwegian).

When the elections are held

Most elections are held in the autumn and mainly electronically.

Election of the Rector and representatives to the University Board

The Rector and members of the University Board are elected every four years. Representatives for temporary academic staff are elected to the University Board every year. The student representatives are elected to the University Board every year as well.

Election of Deans and Heads of Department

Deans and Heads of Department are elected for a period of four years. Deans and Heads of Department are therefore elected every four years. Some departments have appointed Heads of Department.

Election of representatives to Faculty Boards and Departments

The term of office for representatives is four years for permanent staff in teaching and research positions and technical and administrative staff. The representatives’ term of office is one year for temporary staff in teaching and research positions, and also for students.

Representatives are elected to Faculty Boards and Departments every four years.

Responsibility for elections at the University of Oslo

Election of the Rector and Pro-Rector and election of representatives to the University Board

The Central Electoral Board, operating on behalf of the University Board, is responsible for conducting the election of the Rector and members of the University Board, and the University Director has arranged a permanent electoral secretariat that is subordinate to the Central Electoral Board.

When the University of Oslo conducts Rector elections and University board elections, the Central Electoral Board provides more detailed information on the University of Oslo website. If you have any queries, please use the point of contact indicated by the Central Electoral Board for the election in question, or use the contact guide.

Elections at faculties and departments

The faculty’s electoral board is responsible for conducting these elections, and the Faculty Director normally establishes an electoral secretariat. The departments work with the faculty’s electoral board if the department does not have an electoral board of its own.

When elections are held at local level, the local units provides more detailed information to their staff members. If you have any queries, please use the point of contact indicated by the local unit for the election in question, or use the contact guide.

Faculty websites about conducting elections

Elections at the museums and the University Library

The University of Oslo has two museums that elect representatives to the museum boards. The Museum Director generally establishes an electoral secretariat, which stands responsible for conducting the election.

The University Library holds elections for representatives to the Library Board.

Student elections

See the information on the Student Parliament website.

Election of safety delegates and local working environment committees

See the information on the election of safety delegates and local working environment committees.