International Students' Union of Norway (ISU-NORWAY)

ISU is pleased to present our newly elected National Board for this next term:
National President: Amine Fquihi
Union Development Officer - Arun Siva
Political Affairs Officer - Rami Noureddine
Chair - Nilofar Jafari
Vice Chair - Bashir Olawoyin
Political Auditor - Eugenia Nefedova
Treasurer- Dzifa Tofah

Gratulerer med dagen! 17 Mai 🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴

We at ISU would like to say happy 17th of May! We hope you have a great day!

We at ISU Norway are grateful for all of the amazing volunteers who make an important difference in our organization and for all of the volunteers who help bring change the world over. We wish you all a happy international volunteer's day! 🙂

Both Høyre and FrP have recently introduced the idea of having international students pay tuition fees to study at public universities and colleges in Norway.

We, at ISU Norway, are sending out a petition to try and stop the introduction of tuition fees and a survey to try to uncover the thoughts and opinions of international students regarding perceptions of tuition fees.

For the petition, we hope to get as many people in Norway as possible to sign, and for the survey, we are trying to get answers specifically from former, current, and potential international students.

Please help stop tuition fees for international students, and help keep the free principle a foundational part of Norwegian higher education. To help us out, please follow the links below.

1- The link to the petition is: http://chng.it/5LkTqpSmhC
2- The link to the survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tuitionfeeisu.

Your help and feedback is vital! Our education is in your hands.

We at ISU Norway would like to wish all international students a happy International Students Day!

Today is a time to rejoice in multiculturalism in education, and to be grateful for the freedom to gain an education. Stay strong and stay safe!

ISU Norway's President, Amine Fquihi, recently wrote "One need only look at history to see the number of great thinkers who came from poorer backgrounds—like Henrik Ibsen, Alfred Nobel, Marie Curie, and Linus Pauling, to just name a few.

If tuition fees are introduced for international students, many bright, yet poorer, students will not be able to access an education that would help them rise out of the limitations that their economic and social background has placed on them.

The principle of free education has long stood as a cornerstone of higher education in Norway’s social democracy. This is because it, among other things, allows all people an equal opportunity to receive an education regardless of race, social status, and economic background. This means that one’s background no longer limits his or her access to education, rather it is only one’s knowledge, intelligence, and skill that determines their ability to access this....

The future lies in education, technology and innovation. For this we need smart people. Let's continue to make them."

To see a full English translation of the article visit our website: https://isu-norway.no/education-for-some-but-not-for-all/

https://khrono.no/utdanning-for-noen-men-ikke-alle/531610

Utdanning for noen, men ikke alle? Internasjonale studenter i Norge reagerer på budsjettforslag fra Fremskrittspartiet om støtte til innføring av skolepenger.

ISU's President, Amine Fquihi, was recently interviewed by Inter Universitas, where he indicates that "Høyre states in the first draft of their party program that their goal is to «continue to ensure equal access and the right to higher education,» but at the same time they remove their commitment to the principle of free higher education for all, Fquihi writes.

As a first step away from the free principle, they announced their intent to introduce tuition fees for international students from outside of the EEA and Switzerland.... Fquihi also thinks that introducing tuition fees for international students would only be the first step towards introducing tuition fees for all students, including Norwegians."

https://universitas.no/nyheter/67606/is-norway-heading-towards-a-future-with-tuition-fe/

Is Norway heading towards a future with tuition fees? Høyre, the leading party in Norway’s current government, have suggested an introduction of tuition fees for non-EEA students in Norway. Who would be most affected by such a change, and is it likely to occur anytime soon?

First ISU would like to thank Nina for specifically mentioning international students under the free principle.

Here are some of the key points of the video:

The focus will be put on how the universities are managed long term. How the management is, and removing bureaucatical obstacles.

It will be put a greater focus on internationalization, with points on obligatory studies abroad.
Better student and employer relationships.

Students health will be focused on, with ability to apply for leave, and have medical help available for students. Many leave their education early, often because of psychological or financial issues, or a combination of both. Research this will be a tool in solving these issues.

A financial reform to make it easier to study.
Student housing increasing with over 3000 units.

Supporting the education in the whole of Norway, and make sure the educational system doesnt become static.

Knowlegde is always in a change, and we must be flexible and change with it.

Make sure academic freedom is helping to solve the major issues in society, like enviromental changes, climate, sustainability, and the like.

To make sure the principles of social democrasy are maintained throughout the educational system in higher learning.

https://www.facebook.com/Arbeiderpartiet/videos/330560678271340/

The Labor Party has recently released its party program for the next year. They state that they want higher education in Norway to be free for all, including for international students.

Nina Sandberg has pointed out that "When Høyre presented their program draft, [the free principle for education] had been deleted. In the first instance, international students will pay tuition fees. What will be next, Sandberg asks."

We at ISU Norway stand firm in our opposition to tuition fees for all students and stand in solidarity with the Labor Party in ensuring that the free principle stays an essential part of Norway's higher education system.
https://khrono.no/arbeiderpartiet-vil-ha-mer-og-bedre-utdanning-til-flere/518578?fbclid=IwAR3_YoICQDms-2c3rQUgPO3yBdPV6isqM6GizHPW-LjeWWMr1mzOa-PK-8g

Arbeiderpartiet vil ha «mer og bedre utdanning til flere» Norges største opposisjonsparti ser høyere utdanning og forskning som sentrale områder når de skal snekre sammen et nytt program. Nå foreligger programutkastet.

We at the International Students’ Union of Norway are saddened by Høyre's new party program that seeks to introduce tuition fees for Non-EEA and Swiss international students. Høyre has done a 180 degree turn from its current policy plan where it has focused on continuing the free principle in education.

This news has come as a shock to us since the current government has had internationalisation in higher education at the heart of its higher education policy the past few years. The introduction of tuition fees would work to create larger differences in access to higher education, especially when it comes to access to students from lower socio-economic levels, and undermine the very principle of internationalisation.

International students currently struggle enough with the financial requirements they have to meet for their student visas. Few students would be able to pay these financial requirements along with semester tuition costs, thus leading to a drastic decrease in the presence of international students here in Norway.

How can internationalisation in higher education take place if there is a small minority of international students in the higher education system?

This policy should not only be a major concern for international students. By setting the precedent of tuition-fees for one group of students, the movement to tuition fees for all students, both international and Norwegian, becomes an easier step.

We strongly call on Høyre to return to its focus on investing in education and the free principle in higher education. This will not only benefit international students in Norway, but also the higher education system as a whole.

https://isu-norway.no/hoyre-wants-to-introduce-tuition-fees-for-international-students-isu-says-no/

Høyre wants to introduce tuition fees for international students. ISU says no! [caption id="attachment_5101" align="aligncenter" width="593"]

ISU-Norway wishes Eid al-Adha Mubarak to all our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Best wishes with your celebrations 😊

We at ISU are glad to hear that as of July 1st, international students will be allowed to come Norway to study this next academic year.

https://khrono.no/utenlandske-studenter-kan-komme-til-norge/499594?fbclid=IwAR29X98x795GW8HjbhLG4Z2Yk8f69P13VsV7QuOEZ2qIxbruOM03J9VRKDs

Utenlandske studenter kan komme til Norge Kortnytt Utenlandske studenter kan komme til Norge Tekst: Hilde Kristin Strand [email protected] Publisert fredag 26.06.2020 - 10:10 Fra 1. juli kan studenter som har fått opptak til studier i Norge komme til landet. Dette vil gjelde både for studenter med rett til studieopphold etter EØS-reglen...

The new deadline is October 1, and the Directorate of Immigration will be instructed to wait until this date if an application for a stay is pending the so-called subsistence requirement.

The head of the International Student Union of Norway, Amine Fquihi, is grateful for the postponement - although he wishes it was even more generous.

- We are pleased that international students who are struggling financially have been given the deadline to prove that they can support themselves. We will, however, ask the Norwegian authorities to extend the deadline to the end of December 2020. The fact is that we do not know when the restrictions will be softened up enough to find work in the service professions. These types of jobs are the ones most accessible to international students, comments Fquihi.

Fear competition for jobs:

But Fquihi in the International Student's Union is not sure that October 1 is enough. He says he fears stiff competition for jobs, even though workplaces will open up by October 1st.

- The competition for jobs is likely to be extreme, given the high unemployment rate in Norway now. In addition, it is often difficult for international students to find a job today, due to language problems, Fquihi points out.

Students who do not get back old jobs, but need to hunt for a new job, may therefore need more time.

- We hope the authorities will be flexible and take into account the challenges. With continued discussion with the Ministry of Education, and if both sides can be flexible, we can come up with solutions that can help the international students further.

There are also international students who are about to complete their degree and who want to apply for jobs as job seekers. These students must show that they have NOK 246,246 to obtain a new residence permit. These should also be taken care of.

To read a full translation of the article in English, visit our website by following this link: http://isu-norway.no/get-more-time-to-raise-money/

https://khrono.no/far-mer-tid-til-a-skaffe-penger/483312?fbclid=IwAR21ETSAbDG2XqVvQ8PoZYuhis54GPxdyhWdsvrEx4hGM6koc45-Zt1uoKM

Får mer tid til å skaffe penger Regjeringen utsetter frist som er avgjørende for at internasjonale studenter skal få oppholdstillatelse.

KD Letter on Student Mobility Fall 2020

We refer to inquiries to the Minister of Research and Higher Education, where several guidelines for student mobility are being sought in light of Covid-19.

The Ministry of Education and Research assumes that the sector coordinates as far as possible its practices with regard to international student mobility for the coming academic year. The Ministry is concerned that all students, regardless of the institution to which they are affiliated, should have similar opportunities. The principle of equality must be emphasized.

The Ministry is happy to contribute in dialogue with the institutions on this, for example under the auspices of the University and University-College Council (UHR). KD wishes to thank them for a good cooperation. We will continue the dialogue with UHR, universities and colleges, Directorate for Internationalization and Quality Development in Higher Education (Diku), National Agency for Quality in Education (NOKUT), Lånekassen, Directorate for ICT and Joint Services in Higher Education and Research (Unit), Council for Social Affairs, Norwegian Student Organization (NSO), Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA), International Students’ Union of Norway (ISU) and other relevant actors.

Incoming student mobility this fall

The Ministry assumes that Norwegian universities and colleges will make every effort to welcome new foreign students for the 2020/21 academic year to the extent possible within the contagious measures in force at any given time. Both the admission process, reception, study start and teaching program for international students in the autumn of 2020 must of course be adapted to the infection prevention measures. In this context, the institutions must consider whether it is possible to carry out campus-based teaching or whether teaching is offered digitally.

According to what the department is experiencing, no European countries have so far come out and said that they are cancelling incoming student mobility in the autumn of 2020. The attitude in most countries is that they are working for as normal a situation as possible in terms of student mobility and this is also our attitude. At the same time, it is unclear how the situation will develop, and changes can happen quickly. At which point in time it will open for entry into Norway for various groups of foreign citizens, including students, will be assessed continuously by the responsible authorities.

Foreign students that are in Norway now

The Ministry of Education and Research is in dialogue with the International Students’ Union of Norway (ISU) and are aware of the challenges foreign students in Norway are experiencing in light of Covid-19. It is basically the foreign students themselves or their home country who have the financial responsibility for their living. Norwegian authorities contribute by offering free education. At the same time, we welcome foreign students to Norway because they enrich our education system and thus, of course, we also want them to have the opportunity to succeed financially in Norway. The government has established a temporary scheme for wage compensation for 18 days after the employer period. Students, both Norwegian and international, who are members of the National Insurance Scheme are an example of a group that can now receive this compensation, despite the fact that they are not entitled to unemployment benefit afterwards. The Ministry of Education and Research wants to continue dialogue with the Welfare Organization Council (Samskipnadsrådet) in order to facilitate flexible solutions for foreign students with significant liquidity challenges as a result of the corona situation.

The Ministry understands the concern some international degree students from countries outside the EU/EEA have had about whether layoffs from part-time jobs could prevent them from renewing their residence permit in Norway. The government has decided to push back the time when the subsistence requirement must be met. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security will shortly instruct the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) to await the completion of applications for renewal of residence permits as a student, where failure to meet the subsistence requirement is the only reason for refusal, until 1 October 2020.

This solution can help the situation of foreign students in Norway who have lost their income base. The solution will postpone the assessment of the maintenance requirement in connection with an application for renewal of the permit until October 1, 2020. The applications will first be assessed in the usual way, but UDI will await the completion of the renewal application where the non-fulfillment of the subsistence requirement is the only reason for refusal. These applicants will be encouraged to submit documentation on work or other subsistence by October 1st. In this way, provided that they submit an application for renewal within one month before the existing permit expires, they will have the right to remain until UDI decides on the matter after October 1st.

It is important to note, however, that if the subsistence requirement is also not met by October 1st, he/she will be denied his/her application for a further stay and must leave Norway. It should also be noted that such “postponement” of the case will not resolve the financial problems of students that have lost part-time work, but will give them more time to get their job back, find a new job, or raise funds to meet the subsistence requirement in some other way.

New foreign student travel to Norway

New foreign students who plan on studying in Norway from Fall 2020 will still be able to apply for a residence permit, and upon being approved, a flexible entry time will be set in accordance with the national entry regulations in light of the contagion situation. One challenge that some students will face is that most of Norway’s visa application centers abroad are unfortunately closed until further notice, which means that students might experience challenges both in applying for a residence permit and in obtaining an entry visa. The Ministry of Education and Research will continue the dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has decided that UDI will process all applications for residence permits from foreigners, who are not subject to the EEA regulations, on an ongoing basis. This also applies to students. The ban on expulsion was therefore changed on April 20, by providing a new provision regulating deferred entry and expulsion of foreigners with residence permits. This means that for foreigners who are granted a residence permit after April 20, 2020, access to entry will be postponed “for the time being”, unless otherwise stipulated by the immigration authorities in accordance with the exceptions already contained in the expulsion regulations (exceptions for specific groups of persons). For international students who have admission for the fall semester, UDI usually sets the last entry date to September 1st. However, UDI can provide a later entry date, provided it is documented that the student still has admission if he/she arrives after that date. It is then important that the educational institutions document the last date for attendance/entry in the student’s admission letter sent to UDI.

Outgoing student mobility

The Ministry of Education and Research has experienced that Norwegian universities and colleges have taken good care of returning exchange students this semester and secured their opportunities to maintain their study progress.

With regard to outgoing student mobility for the coming semester, the Ministry assumes that we will return to a normal situation as soon as possible. The institutions must consider the security and infection protection considerations in force in Norway and in the host countries at all times, but within the framework they provide, the Ministry is of the opinion that the institutions should, as far as possible, arrange for students to be able to travel in the autumn of 2020.

Norwegian full-time students abroad must primarily deal with their foreign educational institution with a view of completing the current semester. For the spring of 2020, the Ministry of Education and Research has changed the rules in the regulations on educational support to allow for students to retain support from the Loan Fund when educational institutions facilitate alternative teaching and examination models instead of the student being physically present. The regulatory changes also allow students abroad to keep paid out funds even if they have to cancel this spring.

At this time it is not possible to say anything about how many Norwegian students abroad will not be allowed to take the exam this semester. The Ministry is in dialogue with the Loan Fund about what financial consequences a delay can have for the individual student, and whether further changes in the regulations on educational support are needed.

Norwegians who wish to start full-time studies abroad in the 2020/2021 academic year should contact the relevant educational institutions and seek information on what guidelines they have for admission in the fall of 2020. You should also be thoroughly informed about the general infection situation in the country in question and consider security matters prior to departure as well as adhering to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official travel advice.

Kind regards,

Anne Line Wold (e.f.) Joakim Bakke
Director General Section Director

Happy arbeidernes dag/International Workers Day everyone! We at ISU hope you all are able to celebrate and appreciate workers everywhere safely today!

Finally, we at ISU are also pleased to present our newly elected National Board for this next year, all of whom were elected at our digital National Assembly yesterday:

National President: Amine Fquihi
Union Development Officer - Arun Siva (Ak Majd)
Political Affairs Officer - Pinkey Roy
Chair - Almim Hossain Shuvo
Vice Chair - Nil Eryılmaz
Political Auditor - Rami Noureddine
Treasurer- Rohail Ashraf Cheema

We are grateful to all of our National Assembly delegates who participated in electing these new leaders of our organization and look forward to seeing what they will do this next year!

We at ISU are also pleased to present our newly elected Executive Board for this next year, all of whom were elected at our digital National Assembly yesterday:

National President: Amine Fquihi
Union Development Officer - Arun Siva (Ak Majd)
Political Affairs Officer - Pinkey Roy

We at ISU are pleased to announce that at our digital National Assembly yesterday, Amine Fquihi was reelected as National President for the 2020/2021 period. We look forward to the efforts he will make this next year to lead our organization as well as help ensure and protect the rights and welfare of international students here in Norway.

We at ISU want to wish you all Ramadan Mubarak!

Salary compensation for laid-off workers

Press Release | Date: 14.04.2020 | Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs , Ministry of Education and Research
| No: 22/20

The Government guarantees compensation to laid-off workers for 18 days after the end of the pay period.

In order to limit the financial burden of the corona pandemic on employers, the period for which an employer is obliged to pay wages on layoffs was reduced to two days. Stortinget has allocated funds for a temporary benefit to secure full-time employees, up to 6G, for a further 18 days.

The purpose of the new temporary scheme is to extend the total period of laid-off workers receiving full pay at the start of the lay-off period from 15 days to 20 days, while at the same time reducing the employer's pay obligation for lay-offs from 15 days to 2 days.

The temporary full salary scheme for 18 days after the employer period is now ready.

- I am pleased that we have now put in place the compensation scheme for laid-off workers. The new scheme is simple, so that it will be manageable for NAV, and it applies to everyone affected by the cut during the employer period. This means that even those who are not entitled to unemployment benefits, such as students, will receive salary compensation for 18 days, says Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Torbjørn Røe Isaksen.

Minister of Research and Higher Education Henrik Asheim is pleased that the scheme also includes students.

- I have previously said that we work to ensure that no one falls between the cracks. Therefore, I am very pleased that the government has landed on a scheme that closes yet another gap for students who have ended up in a financially difficult situation. This new salary compensation together with the optional supplementary loan with scholarships in the Loan Fund will make a good contribution to getting fixed expenses paid in the future and so that no one needs to end their education, says Henrik Asheim, Research and Higher Education Minister.

The benefit is provided for 18 calendar days

The new benefit is not provided for working days, such as the employer's paycheck, but for five days per week. The benefit is paid for the first 18 weekdays (i.e. the days Monday-Friday) after the employer period has ended. This means that the period of salary compensation amounts to as many calendar days for fully laid-off workers as for partially laid-off.

This also means that a worker who is laid off from a part-time job, such as two days a week, receives the benefit for as many calendar days as one who works full time. The part-time fraction is not reflected in how many days they receive the benefit, but how high the benefit is per day.

Calculation of performance

When calculating the benefit, 260 working days per year are assumed, and thus 21.7 days per month. When the benefit is to cover 18 days, it means that it will amount to 83 percent of a monthly salary.

Wage earnings that completely laid off workers have received from their former employer during the benefit period are deducted when calculating the benefit.

For partially laid-off employees, the benefit is to be reduced in accordance with the degree they have been laid-off, but here too, salary income from the lay-off employer will be deducted if these are higher than the stated lay-off rates indicated.

Benefits are not paid if the applicant simultaneously receives sick pay or care allowance.

Application and payment

The laid-off must apply in order to receive this benefit. For it to be possible to calculate the benefit properly, it is not practically possible for NAV to process the application until after it has expired 18 days from the end of the employer period
Reimbursement of staggered salary from the employer.

There are already some employers who have staggered wages to their laid-off workers in the 18 days beyond the employer period. These employers will be reimbursed for what they have paid, limited up to 6G. In order to simplify the processing of cases in NAV, this possibility will cease for layoff periods that start after April 20, 2020.

Employers must submit a refund application by October 31, 2020.

https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/lonnskompensasjon-til-permitterte/id2697372/?utm_source=www.regjeringen.no&utm_medium=epost&utm_campaign=nyhetsvarsel%2014.04.2020-14:19&utm_content=Arbeidsmarked%20og%20sysselsetting&fbclid=IwAR0MlTE6B1h2FxEHgo5tdhFmJp-mOcETvJ50_VhDDrDCWpU6UHHMMyOZbQo

Lønnskompensasjon til permitterte Regjeringen sikrer kompensasjon til permitterte i 18 dager etter utløpet av lønnspliktperioden.

"Norway is known for its support for emergency aid. According to NORAD, in 2018 the Norwegian authorities donated NOK 34.6 billion to international emergency aid. If this country can be so generous with emergency aid abroad, why not provide financial aid to students who help pay taxes to Norway? International students expect the Norwegian authorities to show the same care for them, who have been laid off or dismissed from their jobs due to the crisis, that is being shown to the countries from which they come.

The International Students Union of Norway urges the Norwegian authorities not to close their eyes to the economic situation that many of those living in Norway are struggling with. Many international students rely on an income to live on and the savings they have in order to have enough money to meet the requirements for their student visa renewal.

We need the authorities to waive the amount required for student visas and semester fees." Writes ISU Norway's President, Amine Fquihi in Khrono.

For a full English translation of the article follow this link: https://isu-norway.no/why-not-provide-financial-aid-to-students-who-pay-taxes-to-norway/

https://khrono.no/hvorfor-ikke-yte-finansiell-nodhjelp-til-studenter-som-betaler-skatt-til-norge/477784

Hvorfor ikke yte finansiell nødhjelp til studenter som betaler skatt til Norge? Et land i en økonomisk krise burde ikke ønske at skattebetalende innbyggere som bidrar til kvaliteten til utdanningen, forlater landet, skriver Amine Fquihi i International Students' Union.

"We are very concerned about the current financial situation of international students. In our survey, we found that 56 percent of those surveyed are currently unable to pay their rent because they lost their job, Fquihi says.

ISU's experience is that the government has so far decided that they will not provide any assistance to international students who have lost their jobs.

- Students are now worried because they may be thrown out of Norway, Fquihi says.

He points out that for many, their part-time job was important for maintaining the level of bank deposits the Norwegian authorities require them to have in their account at the start of their studies. 79 percent in ISU's survey say this is a major concern for them now."

-Excerpt from an interview of ISU Norway's President, Amine Fquihi in Khrono.

To read a full translation of the article follow the following link: https://isu-norway.no/over-600-international-students-have-major-financial-problems/

https://khrono.no/over-600-internasjonale-studenter-har-store-okonomiske-problemer/477221

Over 600 internasjonale studenter har store økonomiske problemer De får ikke krisepakke eller ekstra lån og stipend. Over 1000 internasjonale studenter som fortsatt er i Norge sliter.