Career
She served as the Minister of Research and Higher Education from 18 October 2007 to 23 March 2012. From 1993 to 2007, she served as governor of Rogaland. Aasland has a candidate.sociol. degree in sociology and was a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Social Research from 1976 to 1982, and its acting director from 1980 to 1981.
She has cited Vilhelm Aubert as her largest influence.