Hege Stein Helland

Dr. Hege Stein Helland is a Researcher at the Department of Government, University of Bergen, specializing in public policy, state legitimacy, and the foundations of the welfare state. She is affiliated with the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (DIPA), conducting research on children's rights, child protection, welfare policy, and discretionary decision-making in public services and courts.

Her research examines:

• The relationship between citizens and the state
• Discretionary practices in public services and courts
• The normative basis for paternalistic public policies
• Children's rights and child protection systems
• Trust in public institutions

Dr. Helland employs diverse research methodologies including text analysis, interviews, surveys, survey vignettes, and survey experiments, drawing data from multiple sources such as decision-makers in courts and public administration, citizens, service users, court decisions, and public documents. Her comparative research across European countries provides valuable insights into different approaches to child protection and the implementation of children's rights.

She has been recognized for her research contributions, most recently being selected as a delegate for UiB's Momentum program for 2024-2025, which provides support for early-career researchers through funding and professional development opportunities.

Her research has significant implications for understanding how welfare states balance individual rights with collective welfare responsibilities, particularly in sensitive areas like child protection where professional discretion intersects with legal frameworks and human rights considerations.

Dr. Helland actively contributes to academic education through:

• Supervising master's students in Politics and Governance at UiB and Organization and Leadership at HVL
• Teaching at doctoral level (GOV901 'Effects of Lawfare'), master's level (GOV325 'Governing and Decision-Making'), and bachelor's level (GOV116 'Law and Politics', GOV213 'Health and Welfare Policy', GOV104 'Political Theory')
• Participating in major research projects funded by the Research Council of Norway and the European Research Council

Her work bridges political science, public administration, law, and social policy, making interdisciplinary contributions to understanding how welfare states govern sensitive areas of social life while respecting children's rights and human dignity.