This makes universities, university colleges and research institutes key institutions in our knowledge society, along with archives, libraries and museums (the ‘ABM’ institutions).
Since these institutions are responsible for research, teaching and development in their designated fields, NAR demands higher wage levels, accompanied by working conditions that comply with the Working Environment Act and safeguard professional integrity, academic freedom and research ethics at the institutions.
Research investments in Norway lag far behind the other Nordic countries measured both as a percentage of GDP and as per capita research investment. Norway faces formidable challenges associated, not least, with health, climate and energy. Investment in research and higher education is an important policy instrument for finding solutions to these challenges, and for promoting future value creation.
NAR is of the opinion that Norway should stand firmly behind its objective to escalate research efforts to 3 per cent of GDP, but the target can be postponed until 2014. Further, the public sector's share of this should account for at least 50 per cent, given the low R&D intensity in Norwegian business and industry.
Having equal rights to education is a fundamental principle which must remain a cornerstone of Norway's educational policy. This means the public sector is responsible for funding higher education, for ensuring the necessary equipment for good teaching, and for maintaining a satisfactory system for student grants and loans.
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