Big Cuts for the Humanities Faculty
The Humanities Faculty at NTNU will have to make significant cuts in their programs of study due to lack of funds. NTNU blames insufficient funds from the state, but the minister of education believes that the faculty must take responsibility for its own budget problems.
Tekst: Bård Jahnsen, Karoline Larsen Mork
Linguistics, languages and religion are among of the types of courses that will disappear from 2013 onwards. The master’s programs in art criticism and cultural facilitation will be discontinued. In addition there will be fewer lectures at the institute.
”On the one hand, there are degree programs for which I have a lot of respect and that I would like to keep in the faculty. On the other hand, we’re 15 million NOK under budget,” says dean Kathrine Skretting at the Faculty for Humanities (HF).
An Unfortunate Budget Model
40% of the faculty’s budget depends on how many credits its students earn. The rest of its funds are distributed by NTNU. While engineering students take 60 credits a year on average, the humanities students take closer to 40.
“A slow progression of studies leads to a smaller budget and therefore the discontinuation of several of the more esoteric courses,” says Skretting.
She is of the opinion that this budget model, which is dictated by the Norwegian Department of Knowldedge, has lead to insufficient funds.
Taking Responsibility
The Minister of Research and Higher Education, Tora Aasland, believes that NTNU is responsible for distributing the funds they are given in order to maintain important programs and courses.
”It isn’t right that courses are discontinued because of a low rate of credit procurement. In addition to the funds that the faculties receive for the students’ results, we give NTNU a large basis allowance that they choose how to allocate. NTNU has the freedom to prioritize certain areas, but they have a responsibility to society to maintain programs and courses,” she says.
A Reasonable Appropriation
Berit Kjeldstad, a director at NTNU, does not agree with Aasland in that the basis allowance is enough to maintain all of the programs of study.
“The basis allowance gives us a certain sum, but the number of students and the rate of credit earnings means a lot for HF’s economy,” says Kjeldstad.
However, he believes that NTNU appropriates its funds in a reasonable manner.
“How can we defend increasing the allowance for the faculty when there are so few applicants. It’s obvious that we can’t keep programs that have only three or four students. It’s a national phenomenon outside of NTNU’s control that the popularity of humanities is sinking,” she says.
From Humanities to Technology
Skretting explains that the 500 spots for students that HF has lost have mostly been moved to more popular technical programs.
"Those spots were moved because the demand for technology has increased and it has decreased for the humanities. Of course, technology is also NTNU’s main profile,” says Skretting.
The faculty’s representative, Marianne Årvik, understands that many students think that the technical programs are most interesting.
”We live in a more and more digitalized world, and that certainly many students who think that it’s more attractive to study that kind of field rather than the humanities,” she says.
Must Maintain its Breadth
The Minister of Education, Tora Aasland, believes that the lack of popularity for the humanities is a question of priorities and the quality of the programs.
“It seems in a way that follow-up is better for the technical programs. They’ve been better to adapt to our changing society than the humanities,” she says.
The minister believes that even though NTNU has historically had a science focus, they also have a special responsibility to maintain the breadth of programs they offer.
”In the end, it’s the programs that NTNU prioritizes with its funds that play the most important role. I expect that NTNU gives the humanities some priority, even though it isn’t their main profile,” she says.
Aasland believes that HF has a duty to prevent sinking popularity.
”If the students don’t know what this knowledge can be used for, it’s understandable that they don’t complete these programs. NTNU has to inform them of job opportunities,” she says.
Lack of Career Focus
Skretting agrees that one of the reasons for HF’s sinking enrollment is that many students do not think that the programs will teach them useful job skills.
“I’ve had a lot of students who have been satisfied with the courses, but during the course of their studies they begin to worry about the job market. We need to do a better job of showing students how they can start a career,” she says.
Årvik is of the same opinion.
“It’s much easier to see the different career opportunities when you’re studying to become an engineer, than when you’re studying French. This can be a factor that plays a role when students choose their courses,” she says.
The Role of Humanities
Kjeldstad is hoping to institute a national debate which makes clear the role of humanities in society and the division of labor among the universities.
“Such a discussion is necessary because many universities need to consider the offerings they have in the areas in which there are few students,” she says.
