Speak up!

We want to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment and need feedback from you in order to make improvements. Let us know when you are satisfied with something or when something can be improved. We especially ask you to report serious undesirable incidents.
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What should you let us know about?

  • What you think is working and want NLA to do more of
  • Negative aspects of the physical (buildings, rooms, furnishings) or social learning environment
  • Bullying or sexual harassment

Procedure once we receive feedback from you:

  • Reports from students go to the advisor for the quality of education who forwards them to those responsible in the relevant departments or the management at NLA.
  • Everyone who receives and reads messages in the ‘Speak up’ portal is subject to the duty of confidentiality.
  • Breaches of information security will be dealt with by the chief security officer (CSO).
  • The Learning Environment Committee will be informed about matters concerning the learning environment.
  • When you report an issue, you can choose if you want to
    a) give your name, or
    b) remain anonymous

Non-anonymous reports:
When you report a matter in the usual way, you will state your name. Your identity will only be revealed to those who need to be involved in dealing with the matter.

Anonymous reports:
You can report a matter anonymously. You should be aware, however, that anonymous reports can be difficult to follow up effectively, since the opportunity to ask follow-up questions is limited. All reports are taken seriously.

See also further information on anonymous reports in the section on reporting serious matters.

When you are satisfied

Is there anything you are particularly satisfied with? What is it that makes you happy at NLA? What have we got right? This is the sort of important feedback we need in our work to constantly be able to improve our physical and social learning environment.

Online form for reporting when you are satisfied

When there is room for improvement

If you feel that the physical or social learning environment is not as good as it should be, you can report this. If there are conflicts in the learning environment between students and staff, or poor quality or inadequate teaching aids, we want your feedback.

If you have good tips on how the working or learning environment at NLA can be improved, we would like to hear them. Do you have an idea for an initiative that can benefit others?

Online form for reporting when there is room for improvement

Serious shortcomings or undesirable conditions in the learning environment

This is where you can report more serious matters. There may be persistent noise problems, a lack of information, conflicts, etc. Separate guidelines are in place for how to handle conflicts. Disagreements should always be resolved at the lowest possible level, but conflicts must be taken up at the level above where the conflict lies. The guidelines provide further information on the procedure for this.

Online form for reporting serious shortcomings or undesirable conditions in the learning environment

What is the difference between reporting a serious matter and telling us about something you are not satisfied with?

When reporting a serious matter, you are providing information about serious undesirable incidents; primarily violations of the law and violations of general ethical norms. This could be relevant if you as a student at NLA become aware of:

  • unethical, illegal or punishable offences associated with the learning environment, pollution, corruption, misuse of public funds, abuse of authority etc.
  • shortcomings or omissions that can entail a risk to life or health
  • bullying, harassment or discrimination of fellow students or staff in the context of their activities at NLA

Whether you are being subjected to harassment or bullying on campus, or have information about research misconduct, it is important that you report this so that we can take steps to rectify the situation.

Who can report serious matters?

All students have the right to report serious matters.
NLA is obligated to process the report in an appropriate manner, irrespective of who has submitted it. Retaliation or negative sanctions against a student who reports wrongdoing is prohibited.

Can I remain anonymous?

You can report wrongdoing anonymously.

Elected student representatives, the Student Council, the Student Parliament or the Student Ombud can also forward a report on your behalf. The recipient is obligated to take all reports seriously.

Anonymous reports are very challenging to deal with, since they cannot be followed up with supplementary questions.

You should be aware that anonymous accusations against staff members will seldom result in appropriate processing and measures. In most cases, we will need to know who you are in order to follow up the matter in a way that safeguards the rights of both parties.

In matters involving conflicts and harassment, where the person who reports the matter is a party to the issue, you cannot request anonymity. The person to whom the report applies must have an opportunity to be made familiar with the content in the report and defend him-/herself.

How can I report a serious matter?

There are no formal requirements for how to report serious matters. They can be reported in writing or orally, for example by telephone, email or letter, in the online form or in person.

NLA encourages its students to use the reporting system to ensure that serious matters are dealt with according to our procedures.

For NLA to be able to follow up reports appropriately, it is important that those reporting a serious matter provide a precise description of the incident, and include the following:

  • Your full name (you can remain anonymous)
  • Date, with time of day if possible, when the incident occurred or the observation was made
  • A detailed description of what you observed
  • The place where the incident occurred
  • Details of other witnesses
  • Awareness of previous incidents, if any

Please keep in mind that making false accusations may be punishable by law.

If the incident involves a punishable offence, you may be encouraged to report the matter to the police. NLA may also choose to report the matter to the police on its own initiative.

Which principles apply to the processing of reports of serious matters at NLA?

  • All reports shall be taken seriously
  • All reports shall be addressed immediately
  • Anonymous sources can be just as valuable as open sources
  • The different forms of reporting shall be equally valued
  • Processing is confidential
  • Everybody should be able to use the reporting system without fear of repercussions
  • The person reporting the matter shall receive a response within a reasonable time
  • Contradiction (all parties shall be able to submit their views on the matter)
  • Necessary documentation during the process
  • Detection of undesirable conditions shall result in measures

Online reporting form for students (coming soon)

Reports of serious matters submitted by students are forwarded to the head of studies.

Important information

See sikresiden.no for further advice and guidance.