On 1st August, the Norwegian Film School, the TV School and the Game School were merged into a new artistic faculty for audiovisual subjects. Kjersti Normann has been appointed as the vice dean of education.
This is a new position and a central role in the development of study quality for the audiovisual field.
Normann comes from the position of vice dean at the Norwegian Film School, where she has been employed for a little over a year.
The new Faculty of Film, TV and Games at INN University is one of the most exciting places to work for those of us who are passionate about artistic and creative subjects, technology, talent development, storytelling and the field of education, she says.
Strong academic communities and high quality
The Film School has transformed the Norwegian film industry over the past 25 years and is very important for the development of film art both nationally and internationally. The TV School has, for even more years, provided a long list of talented professionals to the industry, with its education in multi-camera production being particularly unique in the country. The Game School was established in 2003 and offers an incredibly exciting range of subjects including game development, animation, digital art, and now a new bachelor's degree in AI from the autumn of 2024.
– I am greatly inspired to be part of the work to ensure and develop ambitious and high-quality academic communities in education that spans such a broad field, says Normann.
As vice dean of education, her main task will be to focus on student involvement, quality in education and international collaboration. At the same time, it is also an important task to support and contribute to the development of the entire faculty.
– The new faculty consists of incredibly talented people and offers a range of subjects that provide knowledge for the future. To succeed, we must develop opportunities for collaboration while understanding and cultivating the unique strengths of the three schools, each with their own strong qualities, she says.
Aiming to strengthen the faculty's international profile
Normann also has a strong interest and desire to strengthen the Nordic and international profile.
– The Nordic community is strong in storytelling. In our turbulent world with increased polarisation, it is important to bring together academic communities and create a fellowship that ensures our common values, such as democracy, ethics, inclusion and diversity. I look forward to working internationally with networks and partners in games, TV and film, she says.
Strong commitment to the students
The dean of the new faculty, Leif Holst Jensen, is very pleased that Kjersti has taken on the role of vice dean for the new faculty.
– Kjersti is an experienced leader, with a long career at NRK and in the education sector, and she will strengthen our pedagogical profile, he says, highlighting her strong commitment to the students and her desire to see their needs.
– My experience from a long working life with young people, creativity and development, whether in the arts/media field or in education, has taught me how important trust is. Both having trust and giving trust, says Normann, elaborating:
– We must trust students as agents of change, trust teachers as developers and trust all functions around as quality assurers. Education mirrors society. For many years, the education system has been too focused on being precisely that; a system. It is more important that the system serves the need, than that learning and development must be adapted to the system, she says.
She is concerned that the education system and society should elevate and build character, trusting that every person wants to succeed.
– My wish is that education should be ambitious, courageous, inspiring, energising and joyful – and that we look far ahead. Education builds society, and therefore it is important that we are aware of the kind of society we want in the future, she says.
The student as a colleague
Normann has written two master's theses, one titled 'Eleven som kollega' (English translation: 'The student as a colleague').
– This is my value foundation for collaboration with the students: they are our colleagues. When students and academic communities learn together in a partnership, it creates academic fellowship and development. We are here for the students and the knowledge of the future, says Normann, who believes that education can be more student-led and developed, together with skilled professionals.
– If we want education to ignite a flame more than fill a cup, then we need to focus on each individual's learning and development as individuals with talents we can develop, she says, emphasising that this applies to all fields of study.
After challenging years with Covid, and with conflict and uncertainty regarding the future organisation of the faculties at the university, as well as changes in education policy and financing, both the dean and the vice dean are concerned with the importance of looking after the students.
Other subjects have much to learn from creative methodology
The work of bringing together the new faculty is now starting. A new management team will be in place in August.
– There are so many talented, exciting and very nice people working at the new faculty. I want to listen and learn to be able to contribute to the further development of the entire faculty. Pedagogical development work is incredibly exciting, but perhaps especially within this field, says Kjersti Normann, who believes that other subjects have much to learn from creative methodology.
– I hope our faculty can become a pedagogical inspiration, she says.
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Leif Holst Jensen is leading the new faculty for film, TV and games
Contact
- kjersti.normann@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 61 28 85 03
- leif.holst.jensen@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 54 16 08