Public journal and access to information

Publication of the Public Journal

The public journal provides an overview of registered incoming and outgoing documents, as well as internal memos at Sámi University of Applied Sciences. The documents are public and open for access unless otherwise provided by law or regulation.

Sámi University of Applied Sciences’ public journal is normally published every other week and made available after the information has been quality-assured in accordance with current regulations on public access and privacy protection. Text containing confidential information is withheld. In case of deviations or questions regarding the public journal, please contact us at postmottak@samas.no

Right of access

Everyone has the right to request access to registered documents based on the public journal. This right is established in Section 3 of the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), which states that the right of access applies to case documents, journals, and similar registers. A request for access must concern a specific case, or to a reasonable extent, cases of a particular type. The case or cases must therefore be identifiable.

According to Section 9 of the same Act, it is also possible to request access to database information that can easily be compiled into a document. Other laws are also important in safeguarding the right of access, including Section 18 of the Public Administration Act (forvaltningsloven), which grants parties access to documents in their own cases — and Article 15 of the Personal Data Act (personopplysningsloven), which regulates access to registered personal data.

Requests for access under the Freedom of Information Act must be processed without undue delay, and Sámi University of Applied Sciences aims to respond to such requests within three to five working days. The university is obligated to assess each request based on the interests of the public and private individuals.

Sámi University of Applied Sciences also practices the principle of enhanced public access (meroffentlighet) in accordance with Section 11 of the Freedom of Information Act, meaning that access should be granted when the public interest outweighs the need for confidentiality.

Documents that contain, in whole or in part, confidential information may be exempt from public disclosure under Section 13 of the Freedom of Information Act, cf. Sections 13–13f of the Public Administration Act. Breaches of the duty of confidentiality are punishable under Section 121 of the Penal Code.

Any denial of access will be communicated in writing, stating the legal basis for the refusal, as well as information about the right to appeal, the appeal deadline, and the processing time for any appeal.

Rejection of access requests and right of appeal

A rejection of access under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova) is an individual administrative decision that may be appealed pursuant to Section 32 of the Freedom of Information Act. A person who has received a rejection may, within three weeks from the date the rejection was received, request a more detailed explanation of the main considerations on which the rejection is based. The authority shall provide a written explanation as soon as possible, and no later than ten working days after the request has been received.

The Joint Appeals Committee (Felles klagenemnd) is the appellate body for individual administrative decisions made by institutions in higher education, cf. Section 8 of the Universities and University Colleges Regulations, cf. Section 32, first paragraph, of the Freedom of Information Act. Otherwise, Chapter VI of the Public Administration Act (forvaltningsloven) concerning appeal and reversal applies.

The time limit for appeal is three weeks from the time notification of the decision has been received by the party, cf. Section 29, first paragraph, of the Public Administration Act.

Public journal and access to information

Public journal for Sámi University of Applied Sciences