EU STEM Coalition - Taskforce Meeting: Norwegian Technology Pact

EU STEM Coalition - Taskforce Meeting: Norwegian Technology Pact

Date: 
20 August 2018
Host organisation: 
National Centre for Science Recruitment
Country: 
Norway
City & meeting location: 
Oslo
Short summary: 

On August 20, 2018 the Norwegian National Centre for Science Recruitment (member of the EU STEM Coalition) organised a stakeholder meeting focused on the next national STEM strategy (2020 and further) in Norway. The goal of the meeting was to evaluate if the Dutch/Danish ‘Technology Pact’ model would be suitable for the Norwegian context. The Norwegian labour unions and various key-stakeholders participated in the meeting. The outcome of the meeting was the formulation of a joint-recommendation to government to adopt this model, supported by all labour unions.

Objective of the meeting: 

The current national STEM strategy of the Norwegian government expires in 2020. In addition, several key-competences in the field of (STEM) education will be shifted to regional/local authorities in the same period.

 

The main objective of the meeting was to evaluate whether the (Dutch/Danish) ‘Technology Pact’-model would be a suitable alternative for the Norwegian context.

Description: 

After an introduction by Mr. Morten Sorlie (director of the Norwegian National Centre for Science Recruitment) the meeting started with a presentation of the Dutch Technology Pact (Techniekpact 2013-2020) by the Dutch national STEM platform (PBT). Key-characteristics of this model are the close cooperation between the ‘triple helix’ of government, education providers and industry, strongly regionalised implementation schemes and emphasis on the ‘chain approach’ (coordination of interventions in different education levels). The presentation also highlighted the recent adoption of the Technology Pact model by the Danish government.

 

The rest of the programme was dedicated to working group sessions focussed on the content, objectives and implementation methods of a possible Norwegian Technology Pact. Some of the topics that were discussed included the cooperation between government and the private sector, the role of teachers and impact assessment.

Next steps: 

All participants expressed their support for the Technology Pact model as a possible new STEM strategy of the Norwegian government. It was agreed that all labour unions will formulate a joint-recommendation to government to adopt this model. The recommendation will be presented to the prime-minister by the National Centre for Science Recruitment on behalf of the labour unions.