Strategy 2023–2030
The University of Bergen aims to be among Europe's leading universities. Here you can read about our strategic ambitions towards 2030 – and how we will contribute to sustainable and democratic development through research, education and innovation.
The University of Bergen is an international research university with long scientific traditions and a national responsibility to manage and develop a wide range of academic disciplines. We are a classical knowledge- and culture-bearing institution based on European university ideals with academic freedom as a founding principle.
Centres of Excellence (SFF) represent the pinnacle of Norway's instruments for promoting research quality. They are particularly important because they provide stable, long-term funding for basic research projects that enable the building of strong academic communities and networks. Here from the Centre for Digital Narratives at the Faculty of Humanities, which explores how algorithms are changing the way we tell the stories that shape our culture.
Long-term, fundamental research of high international quality and research-based education form the foundation of all our activities. Our broad academic range provides unique opportunities for mobilisation, specialisation and interdisciplinary collaboration in the face of the known and unknown challenges of the future.
UiB's greatest strength is the people who through their work and studies contribute knowledge that shapes society. We develop knowledge through a democratic university community and a scientific culture that promotes academic integrity, open dialogue and critical thinking. We are a diverse university that shares a common set of values based on trust, co-determination and inclusion. We stand together internationally with colleagues and students for academic freedom.
The world faces major societal and environmental challenges. Independent, research-based knowledge is essential for solving global challenges and for ensuring an informed society with engaged and equal citizens. Democratic societal development, alongside digital and green transitions, depends on research, education and knowledge transfer from UiB. Through our strong academic communities, our rich educational offerings, our culture and our organisation, we contribute to sustainability and the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law.
UiB, with its proud history, shapes the present and forms the future. We were established in 1946 as a central part of building Norway as a knowledge nation. Our foundation is shaped by scientific traditions from the establishment of Bergen Museum in 1825 and Bergen as an international meeting place since the Middle Ages.
UiB is a national and international university. Located in the heart of Bergen, we are an integral part of the city, its culture and its business community. UiB works purposefully to make visible and develop the knowledge city of Bergen and the region as an international centre of gravity for science, art and culture.
Research at a high international level
UiB's research spans widely and contributes to fundamental understanding and solving the challenges of the future. We are rooted in a European university tradition. Our mandate is to maintain broad disciplinary coverage in research, encompassing scientific and artistic methods.
We protect independent, curiosity-driven research and the appreciation of knowledge for its own sake. Norway and the world face complex challenges that require bold interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. UiB's broad range of disciplines helps ensure society's knowledge preparedness.
High quality, academic integrity and a long-term perspective characterise UiB's research environments, and several of them are internationally leading. Research ethics and scientific integrity are central values for our work. The academic diversity and unique collections constitute an important part of our shared cultural heritage and UiB's societal mission.
Vision
UiB shall push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute to a sustainable and democratic future through strong research within and across disciplines over a wide disciplinary range.
Find our ambitions
- We shall strengthen our position as an international research university with long-term, curiosity-driven research
- We shall develop our excellent research environments and build more internationally leading environments
- We shall strengthen our international visibility and be an attractive international partner for collaboration
- We shall strengthen doctoral education and the recruitment of future researchers
- We shall develop good research infrastructures and strengthen collaboration on infrastructure nationally and internationally
- We shall achieve more Centres of Excellence (SFF) and grants from the European Research Council (ERC)
- We shall promote understanding of research ethics and the importance of research integrity
- We shall strengthen our work in disseminating research results so that this can contribute to value creation in society and business
High-quality education
Education at UiB is research-based and closely linked to knowledge development. The disciplinary breadth of our educational offerings is an advantage for our students, who can acquire knowledge from many different fields. Our education emphasises lasting, solid knowledge, skills in scientific or artistic methods, and personal development. Our study programmes promote independence, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
Student culture, with its many voluntary student organisations, creates a rich student life, shapes individual students, and is an important part of UiB's role as a societal institution and place of study.
Our students come from all over the world and participate in an inclusive and diverse university community. With our unique location in Bergen, we place the physical learning environment and student community at the centre. We are a pioneering university when it comes to student democracy.
UiB offers lifelong learning, competence development and knowledge transfer to society, also through research-based and flexible continuing and further education.
Vision
UiB shall educate graduates who can shape tomorrow's society, working life and business with perspectives from different disciplines. We shall give students an academic foundation that lasts a lifetime and contributes to creating competent and reflective citizens.
Find our ambitions
Ambitions towards 2030:
- We shall be a leading institution for research dissemination that invites dialogue and sparks public interest in science and artistic expression
- We shall strengthen the framework for open science, responsible data sharing and individual rights
- We shall further develop the roles of the University Museum and University Library as custodians and communicators of scientific collections and exhibitions
- We shall have a clear role in the development of Norwegian academic language and terminology
- We shall shape the definition of innovation in academia based on the distinctive characteristics of each discipline and offer expertise in innovation work
- We shall strengthen our collaboration with other institutions and the business sector to put knowledge to use and create knowledge transfer to society
- We shall achieve more Centres for Research-based Innovation (SFI) and participate in European and national competitive arenas for innovation
Knowledge dissemination, societal dialogue and innovation
Research dissemination and participation in public debate are an essential part of UiB's academic culture and responsibility. Dissemination of research's role in societal development creates trust and a culture that values critical thinking and knowledge-based discourse. Creative and performing arts and research-based exhibitions are an important part of our interaction with the outside world. The University Museum and the University Library's collections and exhibitions are central management tasks for UiB.
Our innovation work transfers knowledge and new applications of research to society. UiB has strong traditions for putting knowledge into use through new technological solutions, service innovation and social innovation. Students constitute a force in innovation work.
With our central role in the knowledge city of Bergen, our knowledge clusters and centers for research-driven innovation (SFI), we are a natural and open meeting place for collaboration between business, culture and society, both nationally and internationally.
Vision
UiB shall be an open source of knowledge and an excellent arena for research-based knowledge transfer and societal dialogue.
Find our ambitions
Ambitions towards 2030:
- We shall be a leading institution for research dissemination that invites dialogue and awakens general interest in science and artistic expression
- We shall strengthen the frameworks for open science, responsible data sharing and individual rights
- We shall further develop the University Museum's and the University Library's roles as custodians and disseminators of scientific collections and exhibitions
- We shall have a clear role in the development of Norwegian academic language and terminology
- We shall shape the definition of innovation in academia based on the distinctive characteristics of the disciplines and offer competence in innovation work
- We shall strengthen our collaboration with other institutions and the business sector to put knowledge into use and create knowledge transfer to society
- We shall achieve more centers for research-based innovation (SFI) and participate in European and national competitive arenas for innovation
The university community and organisation
UiB is an international academic community. We protect academic freedom and a tolerant space for expression. As a university, we emphasise an inclusive and inspiring work and learning environment that invites academic creativity, boldness and innovation. We are characterised by strong academic environments, collegial sharing and shared ambitions for high quality.
UiB emphasises that employees have good opportunities for professional development to meet changes in working methods, technology and society. We have a strong recruitment base and work for recruitment practices characterised by quality, long-term thinking, equality and diversity.
Vision
UiB shall be an attractive workplace and place of study that recruits and develops strong competence and promotes a collaborative culture around shared high ambitions.
Find our ambitions
Ambitions towards 2030:
- We will further develop an inclusive work environment and organizational culture that promotes equality, diversity, collaboration and participation
- We will ensure that university democracy remains strong and that decisions are made close to the core environments
- We will be a creative and dynamic organization that invites participation and engagement with arenas for involvement
- We will offer career and competence development to everyone and develop leadership competence that emphasizes trust and openness
- We will develop good work processes and ensure that everyone has well-functioning work platforms and effective digital tools
- We will be a sustainable organization with responsible operations, environmentally, socially and economically
- We will use our location in the city of Bergen in the development of a vibrant university community with attractive, open meeting places
Facilitation to achieve the ambitions
To achieve our visions and ambitions, this section presents facilitating activities that will support the ambitions. The activities are organized so that they follow up on the ambitions in the strategy across academic and service areas.
Scientific quality
- Develop the framework conditions for academic staff and ensure sufficient and continuous time for research
- Attract internationally recognized researchers and create good development opportunities for academic staff at all levels of the career ladder
- Support professional development in the face of digital technologies
- Offer competence in research leadership to strengthen the strategic development of research environments
- Ensure good support for teachers and flexible frameworks for varied teaching and assessment methods
- Offer competence development to teachers and educational leaders in their work with educational quality
- Work systematically with externally funded projects to strengthen educational quality
- Support interdisciplinary research and educational collaboration between academic areas and faculties
- Develop quality work in doctoral education and make it better known among our own students
- Ensure a consistent publication culture guided by quality and in line with the academic traditions of research environments
- Work for frameworks and arenas for publication and sharing that safeguard the needs and rights of researchers and teachers
- Work systematically with research-related communication
- Develop support for technology transfer, patents, intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship through collaboration with external actors
- Ensure that service development is based on the user needs of employees and students
Learning environment and study location
- Offer students the opportunity to choose courses from different academic areas and facilitate the development of study programs across disciplines and faculties
- Include students more in research work and educate a larger proportion of candidates at master's level
- Offer modern digital and physical learning arenas, laboratories that invite collaboration and competence training, and good access to the scientific collections
- Offer students training in digital understanding, knowledge and competence regardless of their study program and level
- Develop student democracy and student volunteering through active student participation
- Work for an inclusive learning environment for students with different needs, backgrounds and identities through measures and schemes that emphasize mastery, well-being and health
- Stimulate closer contact between students and working life, and use the knowledge clusters as an arena for student innovation
- Work for student recruitment from across the country and for more diverse social recruitment
Work environment, co-determination and competence development
- Ensure openness in processes and participation in strategic choices for a vibrant university democracy
- Work systematically with recruitment to reach the best qualified and most motivated applicants from a broad and diverse base
- Include new employees and new students quickly in an engaging and inclusive work and learning environment
- Offer good tools for the systematic HSE work throughout the organization
- Ensure leadership development and arenas for experience sharing across the organization and between levels
- Ensure employees' competence and career development with offers of courses and forums for exchange of experience and learning
- Offer internationally recruited colleagues Norwegian language training shortly after employment
- Ensure good conditions for younger academic staff through systematic follow-up and career counseling
Infrastructure and buildings
- Design user-friendly and appropriate routines, systems and infrastructure for an efficient organization that supports the core activities
- Develop comprehensive plans for research infrastructure that emphasize national and international collaboration
- Develop the scientific collections in accordance with their national and international significance and make them digitally accessible for research
- Realize UiB's plans for area development and university buildings and ensure that education, research and dissemination facilities maintain a high standard
- Manage and develop the university community's many meeting places that stimulate engagement and debate across academic and organizational boundaries
- Work for a climate-neutral property portfolio with local, renewable energy production
International, national and regional collaboration
- Contribute to shaping European and national knowledge policy and clarify the importance of basic research
- Develop the frameworks for institutional participation in international knowledge alliances and networks
- Work with exchange opportunities for our students based on educational quality, academic breadth and intercultural understanding
- Utilize the presence in Brussels to strengthen European cooperation and the opportunities in the EU's framework programs
- Develop the knowledge city of Bergen as a national and international knowledge center
- Use our knowledge clusters and joint projects to cultivate good meeting places and forms of collaboration with our partners in society and business
- Invite various forms of collaboration for innovation with other knowledge institutions and society and business
- Develop attractive and visible dissemination arenas that invite dialogue nationally and internationally