Pro-rector for Education, Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk. Photo by Roger Grostad
An externally led working group, commissioned by Nord University, has assessed safety procedures, planning, and execution of teaching and learning activities with elevated risk at the university.
The group began its work in January this year. They have now summarised their findings in a report.
The report includes input on Nord University's HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) and quality work, as well as specific recommendations related to study programs that involve potentially higher-risk activities.
“We are now reviewing all the recommendations highlighted in the report,” says Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk, Pro-Rector for Education at Nord University.
Nord University offers a wide range of educational activities, both indoors and outdoors. These teaching situations vary in risk level, with activities such as excursions, fieldwork, or trips potentially involving a higher risk of injury or accidents.
The university has common procedures in place to ensure safety in teaching situations, including risk assessments of various learning activities. The purpose of these assessments and the risk-reducing measures is to minimize risk as much as possible while maintaining the learning outcomes of the different study programs and courses.
“For all learning activities with a potentially elevated risk of injury or accidents, the current procedure requires conducting risk assessments and a Safe Job Analysis (SJA). This also includes ensuring that instructors and students receive the necessary information and training. Safety work in teaching situations is an ongoing effort, which is addressed during the annual curriculum planning and periodic evaluation of study programs,” says Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk.
Safe Job Analysis (SJA) is a systematic review and assessment of hazards before an activity where unwanted incidents may occur.
The purpose is to evaluate whether safety is adequately addressed and to identify any necessary measures to eliminate or reduce risk.
Field cards are documents that include information such as destination, return time, contact persons, and other relevant details. The purpose is to have this information readily available in case of an emergency.
The working group’s mandate was not to assess Nord University’s safety procedures in general. However, they did provide some general recommendations, one of which is that the university should evaluate the effectiveness of the field card and Safe Job Analysis procedures and consider potential changes.
“The working group has done a thorough and systematic job, just as we hoped. The university has already made some adjustments related to the sequence of teaching activities and expanded the use of Safe Job Analysis and field cards. We are currently reviewing all proposed measures within the deadline set by the rector for follow-up,” says Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk.
“The follow-up work will be reported to the rector. For some recommendations, the reporting deadline is August 1, while others have a deadline in February 2026,” says Gårseth-Nesbakk.
The reason Nord University established the working group, which has now delivered its report, is the accident in Lofoten in October 2024.
In October 2024, Canadian exchange student Kaisa Wiens died in an accident in Lofoten. Wiens was enrolled in an outdoor studies programme at Nord University, Levanger campus. As part of the programme, students undertake a self-planned trip, which has been a part of the curriculum for many years. Parts of Wiens’ trip in Lofoten were related to the academic content of the course in practical outdoor life.
“Losing a student is the absolute worst thing a university can experience, and it is something we must learn from. We are now reviewing the university’s procedures and guidelines for safety in teaching situations and learning activities with elevated risk. As part of this work, we will also consider whether other types of measures should be implemented at the organisational level, beyond what is recommended in the report,” says Gårseth-Nesbakk.
As part of the evaluation work following the accident, Pro-Rector for Education Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk established an externally led working group to prepare an evaluation report on the accident, focusing on safety procedures in teaching. The working group’s report is now complete.
Nord University about the accident:
Missing student found dead after tragic event (published 15 October 2024)
"Our focus during this time has been to take care of everyone affected." (published 7 November 2024)
