Dr. Flatin is an internationally renowned education administrator and teacher. Most recently, he worked to coordinate the establishment of a Southern Africa-Nordic Centre for Higher Education and Research at the University of the Western Cape. The Centre encompasses research cooperation, student and staff exchange and academic cooperation between several Nordic and southern African universities.

Kjetil Flatin is one of the Founding members of the Norwegian Program for Development, Research and Education (NUFU) which heralded the beginning of long and successful program with southern African universities. He also served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Business with the
University Foundation for Student Life (SiO) at the University of Oslo. While CEO of SiO, he was a prime mover in the establishment of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and served as its president for two years. He headed a national Commission of Higher Education in Norway, the report of which (known as the “Flatin Report”), served as the foundation
for a new national policy and organizational reforms for parts of Norwegian higher education.

Flatin has also worked with several non-government organizations (NGO) including the Norwegian American Foundation, the Norwegian Agency for Quality in Higher Education and the Norway-America Association. From 1978 to 1986, he was the Director of the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. Prior to assuming his many administrative duties, Flatin held faculty appointments at the University of Chicago and the University of Washington.

The Distinguished Alumni Lecture series is made possible by support from the Sverre Arestad Endowed Professorship in Norwegian Studies and the Walter Johnson Visiting Lectureship Fund. (12/01/07)