NITO lifted the members' heart issues in Arendal
As usual, NITO was present at Norway's most important political workshop. We discussed everything from condom use to artificial intelligence.
Arendal Week 2025 took place on 11-15 August. Several departments in NITO collaborated on a program that made us highly visible through five busy days. On the street, our bioengineers demonstrated against the increasing contagion of sexually transmitted diseases. Dressed in white lab coats and with megaphones in their hands, they walked around handing out condoms to passers-by. Even the prime minister stopped and was made aware of rising infection rates.
Four events
This year, NITO arranged four debates. We started with the traditional Monday Council, where Marianne Kjellsen led a panel consisting of Bård Vegar Solhjell (Renewable Norway), Eivind Trædal (MDG), Ina Vedde-Fjærestad (E24) and Malin Moe Neeras (Abel) in a discussion of dilemmas in Norwegian working life.
The Monday Council
Then we and NHO asked whether the Norwegian school is a science laggard. After two students from Arendal Upper Secondary School's student council had given their input, Head of Communications Arne Vatnøy led a debate with our Vice President Safina de Klerk, Rebekka Borsch (NHO), Sindre Lysø (Labour Party) and Oda Sivertsen (Young Conservatives).
Is the Norwegian school a science laggard?
Together with Delta, Negotia and Finansforbundet, we asked what role trade unions have in the introduction of artificial intelligence. In this debate, representatives of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), the Norwegian Board of Technology and DNB participated.
In collaboration with Howden Norway, we asked what an increased retirement age does to generation Z. Here, NITO Students' leader Sofie Strøm Olsen discussed with envoys from Howden Norway, SSB, SU, AUF and FpU.
From pipes in the ground to crash in the sky
In addition to these events, NITO's President Kjetil Lein participated in debates on the backlog of water and sewerage maintenance, a new competence reform and a possible ban on private fireworks, respectively. Safina visited the Poly Podcast of the Norwegian Polytechnic Association to talk about screen use in schools.
-Arendalsuka is an important arena where we can get a hearing for what our members are concerned about. Here, decision-makers gather, and we get an opportunity to meet good partners with whom we can collaborate on matters close to our hearts," says President Kjetil Lein.
