"It’s gratifying that our co-operation with the other science education institutions has been noticed and appreciated," says Elisabeth Lysebo, section leader at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at UiB.

The national project for improving the execution of science master’s degrees which was started in 2003 was based on an initiative from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at UiB. It was done in connection with the introduction of the Quality Reform Act. Both students and employees took part in the process.

Students are now given an absolute deadline for delivering their master’s data. If they do not keep the deadline, then various sanctions can be implemented, such as the right to study being revoked. Each institution decides which sanctions to use.

Eight of ten finishes
The aim of the enterprise is to limit the amount of time used to complete Master’s Degrees, and is an important contribution towards making things easier for both students and milieu.  The follow-up of students will be strengthened and more specific, and this will give a clearer picture of the work and progression of each student.

Only a few post-graduates have previously managed to complete within the allotted time, but since the new system began in the autumn of 2003, this has now changed.

"Eight of ten students now deliver within the deadline and some of the students who have asked for a postponement, also complete their studies, and the few that stop studying, do so at an earlier date," says Lysebo.

Satisfied students
An investigation by the Rokkan Centre shows that students are satisfied with the new arrangement.  Students meant that counselling and close supervision were extremely important factors if they were to complete their studies within the deadline.

The business community now takes the time limit into consideration and lets the students complete their studies, according to Lysebo.  The students also appear to have a more positive attitude with regard to employment.

"Companies have previously recruited students before they were finished, and many didn’t get their degree. The business community now realises that students manage to get their degree within the normal time limit. This shows that they can keep a deadline, and work under pressure," says Lysebo.