Sandra Konstance Nygård Borch (born 23 April 1988) is a Norwegian politician who served as the minister of research and higher education from 2023 to 2024 until her resignation over the extensive plagiarism in her master's thesis.

[13] Following Ola Borten Moe's resignation, Borch was floated by the Troms and Nordland branches as a candidate to replace him as deputy leader of the party.

[16] The background was that Borch had the same day opened for Ola Borten Moe as a possible future leader of the Centre Party.

After a debate at a central board meeting five days later, and an unreserved apology from Navarsete, Borch expressed that she had full confidence in her.

Borch stated that the ministry would work together with Øystre Slidre municipality to find a more appropriate ownership and operation of the farm.

[23] Borch accused her predecessor, Olaug Bollestad, to not have dealt with compensation to the agricultural sector properly before the previous government's departure.

It is important for me to listen to their input before the Minister of Climate and the Environment and I soon will decide whether it will be necessary to carry out an extraordinary removal of wild reindeer in the winter of 2021/22".

[27] On 27 December, it was announced in a press release that she and minister of fisheries Bjørnar Skjæran would put forward a Storting report addressing animal welfare.

In the press release, Borch said: "In the work on the report, we will take a closer look at the development in Norwegian livestock production and all the knowledge we now have about animal welfare.

Borch rejected the proposal, reasoning that additional negotiations had already taken place, and that they had then agreed to return to increased expenses in the agricultural settlement come spring.

The package includes that the government will pay for 55% of the bill if the electricity price rises above 70 kr per kilowatt hour in the morning of December and 80% through January to March.

Borch stated:[30] I am concerned that the money to the farmers will be paid out as soon as possible, and the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture aims to start with payments towards the end of February [...].Borch received backlash from the Liberal Party and animal welfare organisations after suggesting that the wolf hunting period could be extended beyond the current one between 1 January and 15 February.

[31] As a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Borch announced a new guarantee of profitability for farmers who want to sow food grains in Norway.

[32] Borch toured farms in Southern Norway to hear farmers' needs in preparations for the agricultural settlement that would start in week 17.

[35] In September, she spoke out about the possibility of a Centre Party exit from government and low opinion polling, saying: "It's not good and I understand the frustration out there.

[40] Following avalanches in Troms in late March, Borch, along with her colleagues Emilie Enger Mehl and Bjørnar Skjæran, visited the county and inspected the damage.

[41] In May, Borch presented the state and the Norwegian Agrarian Association' agricultural settlement, with an offer of 4.1 billion kr.

[43] Borch was appointed minister of research and higher education in August 2023 following Ola Borten Moe's resignation in the wake of a weapons stock scandal.

[43] Shortly after assuming office, Borch joined prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Trondheim to announce the government's green lighting construction for a new campus at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

[44] The following month, she and the prime minister announced that the government would invest in research into artificial intelligence and digital technology.

[45] Borch visited the University of Tromsø in October, where she praised their program which aimed to encourage more male students to try health professions.

[46] In December, she announced that the Ministry of Education would reject a request from four universities and colleges to remove grade requirements for students applying for the teacher and nurse degrees.

[48] Later that month, media outlets revealed that parts of her master's thesis from ten years prior had been plagiarised, which lead to calls for her resignation.

[52] Lawyer and expert on intellectual property law Magnus Stray Vyrje said her plagiarism was "as serious as it can get" and that the withdrawal of her degree is a likely outcome.

[53][5] Law professor Terje Einarsen said Borch's degree can be revoked and she can be banned for studying at Norwegian universities for cheating at an exam.