Wants to teach for 100 million
Steinar Stjernø wants to use 100 million kroner on Centres of Excellence in Teaching, despite some uncertainties regarding what gains such centres may bring.
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Despite having discarded many major points in his own report due to widespread resistance, one suggestion from the Stjernø Report may become a reality: the establishment of 10-20 Centres of Excellence in Teaching (SFU), which are awarded to academic organizations that focus on the importance of innovation in teaching.
On Monday Stjernø took part in a conference held by the Ministry of Education and Research, where the future of the Stjernø Report was discussed. In the report, Finland and England are put forward as good examples of where such centres have been established.
Helka Kekäläinen, who evaluated a similar project in Finland, has seen positive experiences with such centres:
– When the academic organizations apply for the «Centre of Excellence» status, it motivates the institutions to improve their teaching methods, she says.
However, there have been problems too; in Finland, the same institutions tend to keep applying and receiving the title.
Torbjørn Digernes, Rector at NTNU, is skeptical towards the Centres of Excellence suggestion.
– I think that it seems to be an immature and unclear concept, he says.
Toril Johansson, Director General at the Ministry of Education and Research, does not wish to give anything away at the present time.
– We are in the fortunate position of not yet having an opinion on this matter, she says.
