Speak up about the learning environment
What happens when you report in writing on serious censurable conditions?
All sensitive documents in the case are exempt from public disclosure and the case will be treated in confidence. This means that your name will not be known to more people than is necessary for the further processing of the case.
Main content
Who receives your case?
- Your case will be sent via a central mail reception to the Speak Up reception at the faculty to which you belong.
- You will receive an automatic message that the case is registered in the system.
- The Speak-Out reception consists of the faculty’s Director of Studies/Head of Faculty, learning environment contact and a deputy if one or both should be absent. These three will consider your case and who should be involved to resolve it in the best possible way.
- A copy of your case will be sent automatically to the Secretariat for the university management. This is a legal entity at UiB which ensures that the case will be followed up properly.
What happens next with the case?
- Within about a week you will receive information from the Speak-Out reception as to what happens next with the case.
- The Speak-Uopreception determines whether the case should be handled in the department/program, the faculty or by the central administration. You will get to know who will be the responsible caseworker.
- The dean and the head of department are responsible for ensuring that the learning environment is secure, and will therefore always be involved if censurable incidents have occurred in the faculty/department they lead.
- All cases that are submitted will be taken seriously and investigated as far as possible.
- All sensitive documents in the case are exempt from public disclosure and the case will be treated in confidence. This means that your name will not be known to more people than is necessary for the further processing of the case.
- If censurable events are uncovered, steps will be taken to bring them to an end.
What rights do you have when speaking out about censurable events?
- If you personally are not a party in the case, but you speak out about events of which you have gained knowledge, you will not be Involved in the subsequent process. The case worker will contact you if there is a need for further information to shed light on the case. You will receive confirmation that the case has been received and be informed when the case is closed.
- If you speak out about something serious that you yourself have been subjected to at UiB, you will be a party to a case. As a party in a case, you have the right to be heard and will always be invited to a conversation to be able to present your version of the case. You can feel free to have someone with you during the conversation. It could be a friend, a lawyer, a family member, a student adviser or the students’ representative. You can come with your input during the meeting and the minutes will be recorded.
- You, as a party, will be kept informed of the progress and outcome of the case as far as possible, taking into account confidentiality in respect of third parties.
- You should not experience negative consequences because you spoke out. Even so, if you should experience this, please take direct contact with the Secretariat for the University Management
What rights does the person who is accused of something censurable?
- Individuals who are being accused of censurable conditions are entitled to know about the charge, be given insight into the case and make a statement. The individual or individuals who are accused will be summoned to separate meetings to have the case illuminated from several aspects.
- If an employee is found to be responsible for serious censurable conditions related to his/her work at the University of Bergen, an employee issue can be raised. There are rules for how such issues should be handled in the Civil Servants Act section 18 (lovdata.no).
- If a student has acted grossly disruptive, a case can be brought before the Central Appeals Committee. Rules for how such a case should be conducted can be found in Act on Universities and University Colleges section 4.8 (lovdata.no).
- All parties in the case will be notified when the case is concluded.
19.08.2021