04 - Norway - General Objectives
The aims of the national policy on higher education in the past decade were defined through a 1991
White Paper on higher education (St meld nr.40 1990-91 “From vision to work”) and the ensuing
parliamentary debate. These aims were reiterated in all the budget proposals during the 1990s, and
are still important as an underlying rationale for higher education policy making, not least through
general political backing from the Storting (Norwegian Parliament). According to these aims, higher
education should:
● Contribute to enhance the capacities and abilities of the population in such a way that
consideration is taken both to the interests of the individuals and to the country’s need for a
highly educated work force
● Improve the quality in higher education and research
● Ensure that applicants to higher education institutions are given equal treatment (in terms of
access)
● Promote conditions at the universities and university colleges that are favourable to the
development and transmission of new knowledge
● Use the resources of the sector more effectively
● Reduce the time actually spent by students before graduation, so that the lengths of study
periods needed correspond more closely to the formal requirements
● Encourage increased international cooperation in higher education and research.
In addition, specific goals and objectives are stated for each subject or area of professional education.
For the education of health personnel and teachers, there are separate national curriculum regulations
specifying study content and general goals.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
EN 
CS
DE
ES
FR
HU
IT
PL
PT
РУ
SK
TR
УК
AR
中文
