- Does not support changing the science points

The Government proposes a major clean-up of additional points for admission to higher education, where, among other things, age points are removed.

NITO and NITO Students have asked the government to keep a maximum of four science credits for admission to higher education.

"There is a great need to educate more people in STEM subjects in Norway. In order to get more people to choose such subjects, measures must be implemented in school. There is a great need for a new science strategy and a study of measures to strengthen recruitment to the natural sciences. In light of this situation, it does not seem wise to reduce the science points now," says NITO President Kjetil Lein.

- We do not support the government's proposal to halve the science points. The science points are important for more people to choose science subjects and qualify for engineering and technology studies, NITO's student leader Sofie Strøm Olsen elaborates.

- If the science points are to be changed first, we believe that mathematics and physics should give greater credit. These are part of the admission requirement for many more studies than the other science subjects.

The Government proposes gender quotas

NITO also does not support the government's proposal for gender quotas in higher education.

"Gender quotas are an invasive measure that we believe is not suitable for engineering and technology education. The challenge for our education programmes is that there are few female applicants and that far too few have enough science subjects from upper secondary school," says Kjetil Lein.

- We believe it can be perceived as unfair if women are quoted for certain prestigious studies in technology when similar studies exist in many other places with low point limits.

There is a need to strengthen the science subjects in school, and this requires a systematic boost. We need to promote more female role models who can inspire more women to choose technology studies," says Sofie Strøm Olsen.

Read the consultation response from NITO: Consultation on new regulations on admission to higher education