Deadline: 20-Apr-22
Applications are now open for UTFORSK Programme to strengthen higher education for a sustainable future.
The UTFORSK partnership program was launched by the Norwegian government’s strategy for cooperation on higher education and research in order to strengthen international collaboration between Norwegian institutions and partners in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA.
The Norwegian Government’s Long-term plan for research and higher education 2019–2028 states that international cooperation is a prerequisite for quality in Norwegian higher education. The significance of international cooperation as a measure for benchmarking quality is also emphasized in the white paper on “Quality Culture in Higher Education”, which states that internationalization should be an integral part of education. Research-based education (content) and research-based pedagogy (teaching methods) are two other mainstays of Norwegian education policy.
Purpose
The purpose of the strategy is increased quality and relevance in higher education, research, and innovation in Norway through internationalization and cooperation with the business sector.
- Constructive interaction between higher education and research cooperation
- Productive connections to the labour market, trade and industry
- Mutual student exchange as a part of institutional cooperation
- Constructive interaction between bilateral and multilateral cooperation, with special emphasis on the EU programmes for education and research
Objectives
- The overall aim of UTFORSK is to strengthen higher education for a sustainable future.
- The programme has the following main objectives:
- strengthened international partnerships within areas of mutual and strategic interest between higher education institutions in Norway and the relevant countries
- enhanced quality and relevance of study programmes at the institutions involved
Priorities
- Constructive interaction between higher education and research, productive connections to the labor market, mutual student exchange, and constructive interaction between bilateral and multilateral cooperation, with special emphasis on the EU programme for education and research.
- UTFORSK aims to foster knowledge and competences relevant for implementation of Agenda 2030.
- UTFORSK is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.
Funding Information
The call is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
- The funds made available in this call are a minimum of NOK 100 million.
- This call for applications is open to project partnerships for four (4) years. Applicants may define the project period from 1 November 2022 to 31 December 2026.
- Each project may be awarded up to NOK 3 million.
Eligible Countries
Norway and Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA.
Eligibility Criteria
Norwegian accredited higher educational institutions together with at least one similar institution from one of the partner countries can apply. Other partners may be universities, research institutes, private or public companies, hospitals, schools, NGO’s etc. in Norway or in one of the partner countries.
For more information, visit https://diku.no/en/programmes/utforsk