Student mobility
Since the early 2000s it has been a general aim to increase the number of pupils and students going abroad on exchange, preferably within an institutional cooperation framework. The 2017 white paper on quality in higher education defines more specific goals: 20 percent of those taking a higher education degree in Norway in 2020 should have been on an exchange (up from about 15 percent in 2016). The long-term goal is 50 percent.
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund provides loans and grants for exchanges and degree studies abroad. Portability of loans and grants, as well as extra support for admission fees and language courses, have contributed to a relatively high share of Norwegians taking a degree abroad. The generous loans and grants scheme also makes it possible for the majority of exchange students to go beyond Europe, being less dependent on the Erasmus+ mobility grants than other European students.
Erasmus+ will support transnational partnerships among Education, Training, and Youth institutions and organisations to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of Education and work in order to tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe. It will also support national efforts to modernise Education, Training, and Youth systems.
Student mobility within international cooperation projects between higher education institutions is considered important to contribute to increased quality in Norwegian higher education. The purpose of the mobility may be participation in teaching (courses), supervision, fieldwork, research activities etc., all to improve education and make it more relevant to work life. The following regions and countries are prioritized for academic cooperation and student exchange: The Nordic countries, Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
SIU manages the European and most of the nationally initiated mobility and scholarship programmes which are open to students or educational institutions.
The International Recognitions Unit at NOKUT is responsible for dealing with applications for general recognition of foreign qualifications. NOKUT handles applications for general recognition of foreign qualifications and awards a number of general ECTS credits. They also states whether the level and scope/duration of the course is equivalent to a Norwegian degree.
Higher education institutions decide applications for specific recognition, i.e. whether a foreign qualification is academically equivalent to a degree, part of a degree or other qualification awarded by the institution concerned.
Academic staff mobility
Staff mobility within international cooperation projects between higher education institutions is considered important to contribute to increased quality in Norwegian higher education. The purpose of the mobility may be teaching, supervision, fieldwork, research activities etc., all to improve education and make it more relevant to work life. The following regions/ countries are prioritized for academic cooperation: The Nordic countries, Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
SIU manages the European and most of the nationally initiated mobility and scholarship programmes, many of which are open to academic staff or educational institutions.