News
GENDER QUOTAS AT THE UNIVERSITY?
The psychological faculties at Norway's universities are fed up with the female over-representation among their students. Now they want to set a quota for men, making psychology the first field of university-study with gender boundaries.
The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science already has a limit to the share of female students it allows. If the quota system is to be implemented, the psychological faculties at all four universities have to formalize their acceptance.
OPPOSITION TO ABSENCE REGULATIONS
A recent survey shows that four out of five law students at UiB don't want today's system with compulsory lectures.
– It's like being back in school, not at university, says law student Caroline Ringstad Schultz. According to the current set of rules there are no valid excuses for absence from lectures. Even sick children or an exam won't do. Being absent from more than 25 percent of mandatory classes, is enough to lose one's place at the related exam.
Student Georg Ibsen Lexander says these regulations consume study time as half of the week is spent doing exercises and attending seminars.
– One feels monitored like a child, says student Tone-Lise Pettersen. Dean Ernst Nordtveit says the compulsory lectures are intended to make students spend less time finishing their degrees. He hopes the measures help students to perform better.
– We want to push those who otherwise wouldn't have taken part in study-related activities, Nordtveit says.
GOT BOOKS, NEED SCHOOL
The fund-raising activities during UKEN, the festival arranged by the students at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), has generated 72,000 NOK for NHH Aid.
The NHH Aid charity gives money to Unicef, the world's largest aid organization focusing on children. The objective is to collect 1.2 million NOK this year, a large part of which is to be sourced from businesses.
Gorm Karlsen, project leader at Unicef says that building a school isn't enough, one needs to educate teachers and ensure that children have the opportunity to go to school. NHH Aid's leader, Rolf Ellingsen, envisions the project as more than just building a school. The plan is that NHH Aid will contribute to the running of it as well.
ALEXANDER KEMP
28.04.04
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