Mandate for the Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research and Higher Education (KIF)

To promote gender equality in the higher education sector, the Ministry of Education and Research appointed the Committee for Mainstreaming – Women in Science in 2004 for a three-year period.

The next committee served from 2007 to 2010 under an expanded mandate that also encompassed the research institutes.

A new committee was appointed as from 1 April 2010 with the name Committee for Gender Balance in Research (KIF). The period of appointment was extended to four years and expired on 31 December 2013.

The fourth committee was appointed for the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017. The name changed to the Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research (KIF) and the mandate expanded to include diversity.

The fifth committee was appointed for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021 and the sixth for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025.

A new committee has been appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029 and has the following mandate:

Mandate for the Committee on Gender Balance and Diversity in Research and Higher Education 2026–2029

The Committee shall support and give recommendations regarding measures that promote the improvement of gender balance and greater diversity among students and academic staff at universities, university colleges, and research institutes. The Committee shall seek to raise awareness of issues related to diversity, inclusion and harassment at institutions of higher education and research. This includes increased knowledge about how gender, social, and ethnic background affect (1) diversity and gender distribution in educational choices among students in higher education, and (2) critical transitions in a research career; from entry into research to top-level and leadership positions. The Committee shall see Norwegian conditions in an international context and be a driving force in international efforts on gender balance and diversity.

Actors and institutions in the higher education sector and research institutes, ministries, the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, and the Research Council of Norway may seek assistance and advice from the Committee. The Committee itself may also initiate measures and assess the impact of these. The Committee’s primary tasks shall be based on the responsibility areas of the Ministry of Education and Research. International perspectives shall be reflected in its efforts.

Organization and Composition of the Committee

The Committee is appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research normally for four years. The Ministry determines the Committee’s composition and size.

The Committee shall normally consist of the following core of members, which can be supplemented if deemed appropriate:

• Three members from universities and university colleges, with two deputies
• Two members from research institutes, one of which from the technical-industrial institutes, with one deputy
• One member from the National Union of Students in Norway, with one deputy
• One member from the Young Academy of Norway, with one deputy
• One member from the Norwegian Association of Doctoral Organizations, with one deputy
• One member from the Research Council of Norway, with one deputy

The Committee shall have an observer from the Ministry of Education and Research.

Together, the members of the Committee shall be positioned at a suffitiently high level at the institutions, possess knowledge of the Committee’s areas of responsibility, and demonstrate strong commitment to diversity efforts within their institutions. The Committee shall also include members of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Furthermore, the requirements of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act regarding representation of both genders in public committees shall be followed, cf. Section 28.

The Ministry appoints the members of the Committee on an independent basis. The Ministry appoints the chair and deputy char of the Committee. The university and university college sector and the research institute sector shall be represented among the chairs. The Ministry obtains nominations from relevant stakeholders such as the Universitites Norway (UHR), the Assosiation of Norwegian Research Institutes (FFA), the National Union of Students in Norway (NSO), the Young Academy of Norway (AYF), the Norwegian Association of Doctoral Organizations (SIN), and the Research Council of Norway (NFR). Members and deputies can be reappointed, but normally for no more than two consecutive terms. Representatives from the student union, the Young Academy, and the doctoral organizations are appointed for two years at a time.

The Ministry of Education and Research funds the Committee’s activities within the framework of the annual national budgets. The allocations will cover the Committee’s operations, its secretariat, and resources for diversity measures at universities, university colleges and research institutes.

The KIF Committee is professionally independent. The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills holds employer responsibility for the secretariat. The Committee shall collaborate closely with the Research Council of Norway, the University Norway, the Assosiation of Norwegian Research Institutes, and the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

Committee members are expected to participate in activities in addition to the Committee meetings. The Committee and its secretariat are expected to play an advisory role toward the sector. The Committee itself is responsible for further developing guidelines for its efforts. The Committee shall report regularly to the Ministry of Education and Research.

Source: regjeringen.no