Rita Augestad Knudsen, wife of Albin Kurti, becomes research professor at Norwegian institute

The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) has announced that Rita Augestad Knudsen has been promoted to research professor, after a decade of engagement at the institute.

Knudsen, the wife of Kosovo’s prime minister Albin Kurti, researches international security, counterterrorism, risk, cyber issues and the relationship between politics and international law.

According to NUPI’s announcement, she began working at the institute in 2016 as a senior researcher in the Security and Defense group, and on September 24, 2026 was promoted to the position of Research Professor.

In her application for advancement, Knudsen had organized her research work around three main pillars: freedom in international politics and law, counterterrorism, and the assessment and conceptualization of risk.

“Through my research I have sought to understand the key concepts and practices at the heart of international security, politics and law, and what they imply for policymaking and theory,” Knudsen said.

She said she aims to continue her work especially on issues linking technology, security, freedom and risk, and to contribute to supporting young researchers.

Knudsen’s application was assessed by a committee of experts composed of Mona Kanwal Sheikh from the Danish Institute for International Studies, Professor Sissel Haugdal Jore from the University of Stavanger and Professor Johan Eriksson from Södertörn University.

The committee unanimously found that Knudsen meets the criteria for promotion to research professor at NUPI.

NUPI director Kari M. Osland also praised her work, stressing that Knudsen’s research in freedom, counterterrorism and risk has set a high standard at the institute.

NUPI notes that Knudsen has for about ten years also headed the Consortium for Research on Terrorism and International Crime, while her work also covers radicalization, cybersecurity, international sanctions, self-determination and state-building.