IMPROVING THE DOCTORAL TRAINING IN SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN NORWAY BY STRENGTHENING THE NETWORK FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH TRAININING

The Project has strengthening and further develop anthropological research training in Norway. The Project has widened the range and quality of courses on offer, increased mobility for students, nationally and internationally, and achieved an overall professionalizing of the doctoral programs through heightened coordination and cooperation between the institutions involved.

A network for anthropological research training in Norway has been established in order to provide better courses, make the PhD period more predictable, foster interdepartmental collaboration and make more efficient use of joint resources. We want to st rengthen this Network, and make it viable beyond the project period. In order to achieve this, we propose the following measures: To stimulate the course component of the training, bring in scholars who can help sharpen the courses in fresh and inspirin g directions. Extend the existing course in anthropological theory with one day, arrange the methods course annually instead of biannually and develop two new thematical courses. In order to stimulate mobility and collaboration, arrange one gathering of PhD candidates. As a step towards further professionalizing supervision, arrange one gathering of PhD supervisors. A mobility fund is a way of stimulating contact for the PhD candidates. They may apply for funds to have workshops with international scho lars, visit scholars abroad for extra supervision and to attend national or international conferences and courses offered by the Network. It is crucial to have someone who can organize the activities of the Network. The administrative coordinator will ad minister the Network web site and the mobility fund. The question of how social anthropological ethical standards can and should relate to standards developed in other areas of research, is increasingly important for social anthropologists in Norway to a ddress as a group. To help researchers, teachers and students prepare facing this issue, we suggest organizing a work group. Given that the Network already exists in a rudementary form, we have faced challenges such as those arising from different local orientations, and have gained valuable practice in coordinating our efforts. We therefore foresee no major difficulties achieving the aims of this proposal.