Edvard Befring (born 11 May 1936) is a Norwegian educationalist. He was born in Stardalen as the son of bus driver, Thor Befring (1905–1987) and nurse, Petra Åsta Gilleshammer (1904–1996). Between 1961 and 1980 he was married to nurse Magnhild Sevre. In his youth he was an able discus thrower with a personal best of 43.40 metres, achieved at

Bislett stadion Bislett Stadium ( no, Bislett stadion) is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. Bislett is Norway's most well known sports arena internationally, with 15 speed skating world records and more than 50 track and field world records having been set here ...

in June 1961 while representing

IL Vestar Idrettslaget Vestar was a Norwegian sports club from Oslo established in 1953, with sections for team handball and athletics. It was founded as Vestlendingenes IL, indicating its status as a club for people from Western Norway who had moved to Oslo ...

. He took the dr.philos. degree in 1972 with the thesis ''Ungdom i et bysamfunn''. He has served as professor at

Aarhus University Aarhus University ( da, Aarhus Universitet, abbreviated AU) is a public research university with its main campus located in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the second largest and second oldest university in Denmark. The university is part of the Coimbra Gr ...

from 1972 to 1976, rector of Statens spesiallærerhøgskole from 1976 to 1987 and professor from 1987 to 1991, lastly as professor at the

University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...

from 1991 to his retirement. He led the committee that published the

Norwegian Official Report A Norwegian Official Report ( no, Norges offentlige utredninger, NOU) is a report published by a panel or committee appointed by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Parliament The Storting ( no, Stortinget ) (lit. the Great Thing) is the sup ...

1995:26, evaluating the

Ombudsman for Children in Norway A children's ombudsman, children's commissioner, youth commissioner, child advocate, children's commission, youth ombudsman or equivalent body is a public authority in various countries charged with the protection and promotion of the rights of chil ...

institution. He also chaired the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille from its inception in 1989, and was a board member of NAVF. He has been decorated as a Knight of the

Order of the Falcon The Order of the Falcon ( is, Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. N ...

in 1990 and the Order of St. Olav in 2005.

References

1936 births Living people People from Jølster Norwegian male discus throwers Norwegian educationalists Aarhus University faculty Norwegian expatriates in Denmark Rectors of universities and colleges in Norway University of Oslo faculty Knights of the Order of the Falcon Sportspeople from Vestland {{Norway-academic-bio-stub