Adopted by the ISF’s Board of Directors on 9 December 2024.
Primary objective
The Institute for Social Research shall be a leading research community in the areas of society, policy, and working life.
Values
The institute’s research shall maintain academic excellence and be socially relevant, innovative, and professionally independent.
Operational concept
ISF research integrates problem-oriented and theory-driven research. Our projects enable us to respond to society's needs, explore empirical issues, and develop theoretical insights.
Organisational framework conditions
The Institute for Social Research (ISF) is an independent research foundation established in 1950. The institute receives a basic grant from the Research Council of Norway, which accounted for 13 per cent of the institute’s income in 2023. The institute’s research is otherwise financed by external clients and funding bodies.
Objectives
1 ISF shall undertake socially relevant research of a high academic standard
ISF produces research-based knowledge that is vital to solving societal challenges. ISF research contributes to the knowledge base for policy development and to our understanding of democracy, society, and working life. We study social development empirically and contribute to the development of concepts, theories, and perspectives of national and international relevance. To ensure high academic quality, it is crucial that ISF builds on its strong research areas and maintains flexibility for curiosity-driven research – building knowledge by responding to current issues. A secure professional standing is the best starting point for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing methodological development, and entering new professional and societal areas.
Specific objectives
- ISF research shall be internationally recognised and make significant contributions at the forefront of research.
- ISF research shall contribute to solving societal challenges at both the national and international levels.
- ISF shall conduct professional development work, including the development and application of new theories and methods, within all of the institute’s fields of research.
- ISF shall facilitate professional development both within and across the institute’s areas of research.
- ISF shall strive to ensure its project portfolio has a breadth of funding sources and a composition that facilitates professional development and publication.
- ISF’s international research collaboration shall be increased to strengthen the institute’s academic activities.
- ISF aims to increase the number of EU-financed projects in its project portfolio.
- ISF shall publish its research in recognised peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- ISF research shall principally be openly accessible.
- ISF reports shall be reader-friendly and of a high academic standard.
2 ISF shall contribute to a knowledge-based public discourse.
ISF places considerable emphasis on disseminating research results and acquired insight. ISF researchers shall be active participants in the public discourse and disseminate research in various national and international forums. It is important that ISF further develop its communication work and adopt relevant channels. ISF communication work shall be professional and suitably adapted for our target groups.
Specific objectives
- ISF research shall serve as a reliable knowledge base for public discourse and contribute to agenda-setting.
- ISF shall adopt new and innovative formats for publication and dissemination.
- ISF research dissemination shall be informative and engaging in relevant channels.
- It is desirable that more ISF researchers assume expert roles in the public sphere in our key areas of research.
- Broad dissemination of research within ISF’s areas of research shall be facilitated.
- ISF shall facilitate full academic freedom of expression.
- ISF events shall serve as important academic and social meeting places.
- ISF researchers shall present their work at national and international seminars and conferences.
3 ISF shall be an appealing workplace with a stimulating working environment.
The employees of the institute are ISF’s most valuable resource. ISF shall be a research community where skilled, dedicated individuals want to work and grow. ISF’s working environment shall be characterised by a culture in which collaboration forms the basis for high-quality research.
Specific objectives
- ISF employees shall have a stimulating working environment with a culture of collaboration and sharing of expertise and experience.
- ISF shall strengthen researchers’ ability to publish high-quality academic articles.
- ISF employees shall have excellent development opportunities, irrespective of position or phase of life.
- ISF shall promote equality and diversity among the institute’s employees.
- ISF shall be an appealing workplace for professionally skilled researchers and administrative staff.
- ISF shall have an inclusive working environment with a high degree of participation.
- ISF shall further develop the interaction between professional staff and the administration in the development and implementation of projects.
- ISF shall provide adequate communication channels for employee communication and ensure clear internal communication through suitable, readily accessible channels.
- ISF shall facilitate researchers’ academic freedom and opportunities to pursue good ideas.
4 ISF shall be sustainable
ISF shall be financially and administratively sustainable. For ISF to exploit future opportunities in both established and new research areas, the institute must maintain a sustainable size. ISF shall have a properly sized administration and a strong support system for its employees.
Specific objectives
- ISF’s administrative expertise and capacity shall be appropriately sized.
- ISF’s administration shall ensure good conditions for researchers and research managers.
- ISF shall have first-rate access to scientific literature and publication support, as well as updated and appropriate ICT solutions.
- ISF shall safeguard research ethics, privacy, and information security.
- ISF shall have an active recruitment policy to ensure strong recruitment to our areas of research, attract sought-after expertise, and increase the number of PhD students in the organisation.
- ISF activities shall make use of environmentally friendly solutions and employ environmentally sound practices.
- ISF shall actively participate in research policy and influence its development.