The University Board establishes the study portfolio each year for the upcoming academic year
The ongoing development of the overall study portfolio is influenced by a number of factors, both nationally and as a result of institutional guidelines and management signals. The main starting point for the work is the university’s strategic plans and long-term priorities for the coming years.
Results derived from the systematic quality assurance practices form part of the knowledge base used in the assessment and strategic development of the overall study portfolio, cf. section 4-1 (6) of the Regulations concerning Supervision of the Educational Quality in Higher Education (Academic Supervision Regulations).
Annual cycle for working with the study portfolio
Faculty quality report – January
The report shall provide a principal assessment of the work on quality for the faculty’s study programmes. The faculty’s quality report forms the basis for the Rector’s quality report to the board and dialogue meetings with the faculties.
Rector’s quality report – March
The report shall provide the board at USN with an overall assessment of the university’s work on educational quality. The report shall, for example, be based on the faculty’s annual reports, work on study portfolio issues, and other work on quality at the university.
USN’s annual report to the Ministry of Education and Research – March
Each year, USN reports to the Ministry of Education and Research on the basis of the Ministry’s governance parameters and other guidelines provided by the Ministry.
Dialogue meeting between the university management and faculty and division management – April/May
The Rector shall ensure there is an annual dialogue on management between the university management and the faculty and division management. This dialogue is held in April/May. The management dialogue shall ensure that the current work on quality by the faculty and the divisions is performed according to the stipulated framework conditions, and shall – via reporting and analysis – provide for the implementation of necessary measures. Issues to be discussed in the meeting include:
Status and development of the faculty’s study portfolio
Systematic challenges detected for the faculties and divisions
The faculty and division’s work on quality related to focus areas discussed in the annual report to the Ministry of Education and Research
Strategy seminar in May
The Rector holds the annual strategy seminar at USN in May. The purpose of the seminar is to review the university’s strategic position and assess whether goals, strategies and initiatives are adapted to the current situation.
Briefing to the board on plans for study portfolio developments – June
Based on the faculty’s proposal for changes to the study portfolio, the faculty’s annual quality report and deliberations in management dialogue meetings with the university management, the faculties report the preliminary results of their own orientation proceedings to the board in June. Further development of the study portfolio is based on any new management signals.
Board decision regarding final establishment of the study portfolio (scheduled student admission) – November
The board adopts a resolution each year on the establishment of the study portfolio for the upcoming academic year, including resolutions for zero admission and establishment of target figures for admission. Further development of the study portfolio
is based on any new management signals. The ongoing decisions throughout the year relating to startup, discontinuation and coordination of study programmes, together with the decision on the continuation of existing study programmes, form the basis for the decision of the board in November.