New Universities in Norway
In Norway, the term ”university” has traditionally been limited to institutions with a high professional level (Ph.D.) as well as well as professional breadth. The Norwegian Government suggested in report 27 to the Storting that University Colleges offering Ph.D. level education can apply to become universities. Bodø University College offers Ph.D's. in the fields of Business and Sociology , and has applied for PHD's in the fields of aquaculture and practical knowledge. BUC is thus one of the prospective new Universities in Norway.
Why does Nordland need a university?
Northern Norway has a total of 465,000 inhabitants, of whom approximately half live in Nordland County. Northern Norway is geographically larger than the southern regions, the distance between Tromsø and Bodø being approximately the same as between Trondheim and Oslo.
The population in Nordland is one of Norway’s least educated. 16,2% of the adult population (above 16 year of age) has completed post secondary education. For comparison, the rates for the other two northern counties, Troms and Finnmark, the equivalent rates are 21,2% and 18,1%, respectively. The national rate is 21,9%. The establishment of a university in Bodø will contribute to raise the level of education in the region.
The annual average amount of money spent on research per citizen in Nordland county is NOK 500,-, far below the national average of NOK 4000,-. Allocations to research projects within the new university would improve this rate considerably. Traditionally, Nordland has experienced that young people tend to move away from the region, causing a "brain drain" to the south. Young people taking higher education in the Southern regions of Norway, tend to establish a professional and family life in the South after they graduate. This tendency can be offset by providing the same level of education in their home region. |
