In January 2021 The Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences on behalf of The Norwegian Film School applied to NOKUT (the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education) for accreditation of "PhD in artistic research in film and related audio-visual arts". The new program will replace the current artistic research fellowship program, and ensure that the Film school can continue to offer PhD level education.
The
PhD program relates to film in the expanded field. There is an active
and dynamic two-way exchange between film and related audio-visual
arts. Work on new technologies, formats, media, and platforms draws
on and further develops film competencies and discourses. At the same
time, film language reinvents itself in response to developments
within the expanded field. Work on new formats leads to new
expressive possibilities, insights and working methods that also
apply to linear film.
From fellowship program to PhD
Higher
education study programs in Norway generally are structured according
to the three cycles of BA, MA and PhD. The Norwegian Film School
offers BA and MA study programs. As part of the National Artistic
Research Fellowship Program, the Film School since 2003 has provided
PhD-level education. This program emphasises artistic processes,
results, and reflections. In 2018, the program's success led the
Ministry of Higher Education to introduce a formal PhD degree in
artistic research. So far four arts educational institutions have
established PhD programs in artistic research: Norwegian Academy of
Music, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, University of Bergen and
Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
The
transition to formal PhD poses some challenges for the Norwegian Film
School. In general PhD programs are required to recruit and graduate
a minimum of five candidates a year. It is beyond the capacity of the
Film School to run a PhD program at this scale. Still, The Norwegian
Film School and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences holds
national responsibility for film education. It is vital to secure
film education on par with other arts disciplines. The Ministry of
Education has granted a temporary exemption through 2024 from the
requirements to the PhD program's volume, thus enabling the recent
accreditation application. We hope that the application is processed
and approved by the summer to establish the new program in the fall,
ensuring continuity of third-cycle education.
So
far, four research fellows have graduated from the Norwegian Film
School. In recent years Centre for Excellence in Film and Interactive
Media Arts (CEFIMA) has been vital to strengthen third-cycle
education within the film school. Currently, we have seven research
fellows, and two more will join in the spring. Furthermore, the film
school recently appointed Trond Lossius as professor and PhD leader
and Linda Tangen Bjørge as PhD coordinator.
In the longer term, The Norwegian Film School is in dialogue with the music and fine arts education at The University of Tromsø and Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College to set up a joint PhD program.
