Key functions
An overview of the responsibility of different roles and functions for the systematic work with quality in the educations.
Rector
- Has the overall responsibility for quality assurance work for educational programmes and students' learning environment
- Reports to the Board on systematic quality assurance work
Pro-Rector for Education
- Has a strategic responsibility for the development of HVL’s education programmes.
- Shall safeguard and further develop systems and guidelines for education quality that support faculties’ quality improvement work for study programmes.
- Responsible for HVL’s strategic development of education programmes with a lifelong learning perspective.
- Shall be a spearhead for the development and renewal of of study programmes, their quality and their learning environments in collaboration with faculties, and in accordance with the institution’s strategies and decisions.
- Shall coordinate the enterprise within the area of education and ensure the efficient administration and operations of HVL’s collective study programmes.
- Chairs HVL’s Education Committee, and is a member or chair of the Learning Environment Committee
Pro-Rector for Research
- Responsible for the strategic development of R&D activities at HVL.
- Responsible for strengthening the link between education and research.
- Shall be a spearhead for the internationalisation of education and research.
- Chairs the Research and Development Committee and the central PhD Committee.
- In charge of quality assurance work for study programmes at the PhD level.
Pro-Rector for Regional development
- Responsible for developing external cooperation, strengthening the University’s position in the region, establishing HVL as a significant knowledge and competence actor, and taking steps to ensure that the University is an attractive partner for private businesses and public agencies.
- Responsible for HVL’s overall efforts to further develop five sustainable campuses.
Dean
- Oversees the work on developing faculties’ education programmes at all levels.
- Responsible for ensuring that education programmes maintain a high quality and that all students have a fully satisfactory learning environment
- Shall ensure that the faculties’ study programmes are adapted to society and each individual’s need for lifelong learning.
- Has the overall responsibility for faculties’ quality assurance work and for the strategic development of each faculty’s programme portfolio.
- Has the overall responsibility for the implementation of PhD programmes at the faculties.
- Reports annually to the Rector on the quality assurance system at each faculty.
Department management
- Responsible for the department’s work on quality and ensures that this is carried out in accordance with the quality assurance system for education programmes at HVL.
- Responsible for the academic and professional quality of the education and research within the department’s disciplines.
- Heads the work to adapt the department’s disciplines to the needs of society, and to develop education programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s levels and contribute to the work on PhD programmes offered.
- Works to promote a good working and learning environment at the department.
Academic responsibility for the PhD programme
- Administrative and academic head of the PhD programme, and reports to the Dean
- Heads the work on the quality of PhD programmes and ensures that this is conducted in accordance with the quality assurance system for education programmes at HVL, including special requirements for PhD programmes.
Programme coordinator at the bachelor’s and master’s levels
- Has the overall responsibility for the further development of the education programme, assurance of high academic quality, and good progression and completion.
- Responsible for ensuring that the education programme satisfies the requirements set out in regulations and framework plans, and for the follow-up of requirements in HVL’s quality assurance system for education programmes.
- Overall responsibility for practical training in study programmes.
- Overall responsibility to ensure that student’s learning environments are fully satisfactory.
- Shall facilitate internationalisation, digitalisation and innovation of education programmes.
- Responsible for coordinating study programmes at several campuses, and for collaboration across campuses.
- Reports in accordance with faculty structure and delegation authority.
Course coordinator
- Heads the work course quality, and ensures that this is conducted in accordance with the quality assurance system for education programmes at HVL.
- Responsible for coordinating courses with several course lecturers, and for collaboration across campuses.
- Reports in accordance with faculty structure.
Students
- Students and PhD candidates participate in the quality development of study programmes and the learning environment as individuals, as student representatives, or as members of councils, committees or student associations.
Student democracy
(does not apply to PhD candidates)
- The Vestlandet Student Government Association is the highest student government body at HVL. It makes decisions on general policies on behalf of all HVL students. Student democracy is organised with representatives from classes, departments and faculties, and from the campuses.
- Students are represented in all councils and committees working to ensure the quality of educational programmes and the learning environment, in accordance with the University and University Colleges Act.
- The Student Government Association and student councils are responsible for providing training for all student representatives.
Staff members
- Staff members contribute to quality development at HVL by virtue of their functions, or as members of a council, committee or professional organisation.
Administrative services
- Administrative managers for units in the joint administration are responsible for quality development and quality assurance of services in their units.
- Administrative managers at each faculty are responsible for the development quality assurance of services in their units.
- Students are ensured administrative support for each study programme council.
Community and work life
- The community and work life contribute towards quality development of educational programmes by participating in councils and forums at various levels at HVL.