These regulations apply to staff at recruitment levels and research grades 1109 and 1110 who apply for promotion on the basis of qualifications at Statistics Norway (SSB).       

§ 2

Staff may only apply for promotion within the field of research in which they are currently employed.

§ 3

The closing date for receipt of applications for promotion at Statistics Norway is May 1 of each year. Promotions take effect from the same date. The applicant shall submit a resumé of his/her scientific work with comments on 5-10 works selected by the applicant to serve as the basis for the review. Staff seeking promotion to grade 1183 may submit as many as 15 works for evaluation. The Assessments Committee may at its discretion ask the applicant to provide other examples of his/her work.

Applicants submit a curriculum vitae and list of published works.

§ 4

Research staff at SSB shall satisfy the qualifications criteria in force at universities, specialized university colleges and comparable research institutions for staff at a comparable stage of their career. However, insofar as the criteria for research staff at SSB differ somewhat from those for scientific staff universities and university colleges, the criteria on which the evaluation is made at SSB differ in like manner. SSB generally gives priority to methodological expertise and practical experience of empirical and applied analysis. Unlike universities and university colleges, however, SSB does not require research staff to have experience or expertise in teaching.

Staff at research grade 1183 [forsker 1183] - research grade 0 [forsker 0] - at SSB will have scientific competence at the level of professor, in compliance with national standards in the various subject areas and disciplines. At SSB, methodological breadth may count for more than thematic breadth if the applicant's scientific interests and subject areas are consistent with the work at SSB. Additionally, a grade 0 researcher at SSB should be ready and able to help SSB achieve its scientific objectives by (i) developing and improving SSB's research programme within the postholder's field of work; (ii) maintaining sound scientific practices and mentoring younger researchers; (iii) heading complex research projects and securing outside funds; and (iv) establishing and sustaining contacts between SSB and leading international organizations and institutions. If the applicant, given past experience, is considered to fall short in one or more of these areas, comparatively more will be expected in others.

Staff at research grade 1110 [forsker 1110] - research grade I [forsker I] - will have scientific competence at a level midway between grades 1109 and 1183. Grade I research staff will have acquired knowledge at the forefront of his/her speciality in addition to wide-ranging knowledge across a wider field of relevance.

At SSB, methodological breadth may take precedence over thematic breadth if the applicant's scientific interests and subject areas are consistent with the work at SSB. Applicants will have published scientific work in peer-reviewed/refereed books or journals. In most of the academic fields of relevance at SSB, this means having work published internationally. Work at these high standards should be given particular weight. Work whose subject matter or style disqualify it from publication in the normal scientific journals etc., may still warrant attention if the standard of research is comparable. This type of work could provide evidence of the applicant's range of experience with statistical and/or econometric, social and demographic analysis. Supplementary requirements (i-iv) pertaining to research grade 0 research posts pertain also to grade I posts, but do not require as much documentary evidence of the applicant's achievements in this regard.

Staff at research grade 1109 [forsker 1109] - research grade II [forsker II] - at SSB will have scientific competence at the level of assistant professor at universities and university colleges. If the applicant has a doctoral degree or officially recognised equivalent from Norway, research grade II criteria will normally be satisfied. Research grade II staff will have gained solid expertise in his/her area of work and be familiar with the literature in the field. The postholder will have an independent and critical approach to scientific work, an ability to evaluate issues and practical sense. S/he should be able to communicate with scientific colleagues and make him/herself comprehensible to a wider public. In the absence of a doctoral degree, scientific work of comparable scope and standard is required. This work need not, however, be thematically integrated, though it must be of relevance to the scientific work conducted at SSB. Work whose subject matter or style disqualify it from publication in the normal scientific journals etc., may still warrant attention if the standard of research is comparable. In this connection, particular weight will be given to statistical and econometric work connected with the development of economic or demographic models or related to their development and practical application. Comprehensive economic, social or demographic analyses will also merit attention.

§ 5

The scientific qualifications of the applicant will be assessed by a specially appointed committee, an Assessment Committee. Committee members' scientific qualifications must exceed or at the very least be commensurate with those of the applicant. The three members of the Committee are nominated by SSB's Director of Research. At least one member shall come from outside SSB, i.e. another scientific establishment. A Committee administrator will also be appointed. Unless this person is a member of the Committee, s/he will not have voting rights. As far as feasibility allows within relevant fields of research, one member of the Committee should be from another country. Both sexes should be represented on the Committee, if possible. The Committee may consult with other experts if and when needed. No conflict of interest shall intervene between a Committee member or outside consultant and the applicant such as having connections with the applicant's family or circle. Assessors that have collaborated with the applicant on work submitted by the applicant with the application are disqualified from assessing the application. When applications are for the position of research director, SSB's Director General appoints the Committee.

§ 6

The Assessments Committee assesses each applicant and submits its recommendations and evaluation of the applicant's scientific merits. In its report, the Committee states whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a grade I, II or 0 research post. The Committee may decide to limit its examination of the applicant's work to items specifically indicated by the applicant (cf. § 3) if the Committee is content that a reasonable decision can be reached on that basis. The Assessments Committee shall assess the qualifications of the applicants. It shall not rank them.

The Committee shall conduct a broad scientific assessment of all aspects of the applicant's scientific achievements. Published work shall be given precedence. If the applicant submits more than five separate works, the applicant shall indicate which five in his or her opinion merit most attention. Insofar as SSB relies on group work, the Committee should take a positive view of collaborative work, though in these cases the specific contribution of the applicant should be made completely clear, preferably by a statement undersigned by each of the co-authors. The Committee shall give priority to other scientific but unpublished work for which the applicant can provide evidence of authenticity. Such work could include, for example, the development of analytical tools, project management, consultation and contributions to the production of statistics. When assessing an applicant's qualifications, the Committee shall emphasize the applicant's communicative skills, i.e., ability to communicate research findings. The applicant shall provide evidence of an acceptable ability to communicate with colleagues. Work attesting to the applicant's ability to communicate with a wider audience shall count in his/her favour.

The Assessments Committee may draw on other evaluations of the applicants.

The Assessments Committee gathers the results of its evaluations together and submits a single report. The report shall contain the lists of work submitted by the applicants. The report shall be submitted no later than four months after the Committee's appointment.

The report shall be sent to the applicant without delay. Applicants whose qualifications fall short in the opinion of the Committee are entitled to an explanation. Applicants may not appeal against the Committee's decision, but are entitled to respond to the Committee's assessment. Such a response or statement, which must be submitted no later than 10 days after the report was dispatched to the applicant, will be attached to the case file.

§ 7

If an applicant following a review in the last four years by a review panel has been found to qualify for research grades 1109, 1110 or 1183 on the basis of work approved by the relevant department or if an applicant for a research grade 1109 position has a relevant Norwegian doctoral degree or an officially recognized equivalent from another country, no review panel need be appointed.

§ 8

The administrative department awards promotions when the applicant is considered competent by a unanimous Assessments Committee. The administrative department may, moreover, institute promotion procedures for employees whose qualifications are authenticated, even if the person has not applied for promotion.

If a research position is advertised externally, the body in charge of appointments may, on the basis of a unanimous Committee recommendation or under the terms of the latter part of § 7, make the appointment.