The Oslo National Academy of the Arts shall ensure that you have a safe learning environment and is responsible for carrying out measures should wrongdoing be brought to light. Whistle-blowing cases will be treated confidentially, and you shall not experience any negative consequences (retaliation) from the Academy’s staff because you blow the whistle.
The text below will provide information about the following:
- What is whistle-blowing?
- Who can I ask for advice?
- Who will know that I have blown the whistle?
- Can I blow the whistle anonymously?
- Duty to investigate
- Documentation
- When it’s word against word
- Is it safe to blow the whistle?
- Public access
- Making a police report
- False accusations
What is whistle-blowing?
Whistle-blowing is the act of providing information about serious wrongdoing, primarily illegal activities or violations of general ethical norms. It may be particularly relevant to blow the whistle if :
- either you or your fellow students are bullied, harassed or discriminated against
- you become aware of unethical, illegal or punishable circumstances related to the educational environment
- you discover errors or deficiencies that may entail a danger to someone’s life or health
Who can I ask for advice?
It may be sensible to discuss the matter with someone before you blow the whistle. It is crucial that the person with whom you are discussing the matter knows what whistle-blowing entails, and it is therefore a good idea to contact SiO Counselling. They are available for consultation at the Academy every Tuesday. You can find information about how to make an appointment here.
SiO Counselling can participate in meetings alongside you and provide you with support under way. Blowing the whistle may be difficult because you must describe what you have experienced to the people who will be investigating the matter. You may also be asked to testify in the event of a trial. Be aware that you may experience opposition and denial from other parties involved in the case, something that may feel unpleasant.
Who will know that I have blown the whistle?
Your name will not be made known to more people than what is necessary to process the case. The person being accused has the right to know about the complaint, be given access to the case and present their side. In most cases, this will mean that the person being accused may become aware of who blew the whistle.
Can I blow the whistle anonymously?
Whistle-blowing can take place anonymously if the whistle-blower so desires. In most cases, however, anonymous reporting will make it harder to investigate the concerns in question and should be considered only as an emergency solution.
Duty to investigate
If you choose to blow the whistle, the person you submit the case to has a duty to forward it to the Section for Human Resources.
Documentation
Keep any documentation that substantiates the case (such as e-mails, text messages, letters, pictures and the like). Write down what you have experienced as soon as possible after it has occurred.
When it’s word against word
Please be aware that the Academy may be limited in its options to sanction an employee if there is no concrete evidence that the wrongdoing has taken place. Nevertheless, your whistle-blowing may help ensure that such wrongdoing does not happen again.
Is it safe to blow the whistle?
It shall be safe to blow the whistle, and students can be absolutely confident that their case will be followed up. Whistle-blowers shall not suffer any negative reactions. Employees are expressly forbidden from retaliating against whistle-blowers, such as giving them lower marks or otherwise negatively impacting their careers (cf. section 2A.2 of the Working Environment Act).
If you nonetheless should experience negative consequences after having blown the whistle, we ask you to contact the dean or the head of academic affairs.
Public access
Your report will be archived in the Academy’s archive system. The title of the case, as well as the time it was submitted to the Academy, will be published in an official record. We will not publish your name or other confidential information that may expose you or the other parties involved in the case.
If the whistle-blowing becomes publicly known, for example if the media requests access to an official record, the Academy will treat the whistle-blowing internally as a disciplinary procedure. Pursuant to
section 13 of the Public Administration Act
, such cases are subject to a duty of confidentiality.
Making a police report
If the incident is a punishable offence, you may be asked to report the case to the police. The Academy may also choose on their own volition to report a case to the police.
False accusations
Please be aware that making a false accusation is punishable.