Globally competitive, locally engaged: higher education institutions as a regional driving force

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Globally competitive, locally engaged higher
education institutions as a regional driving force

• Rector Jarle Aarbakke, University of Tromsø
• Reykjavik, June 5 2008

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Universities in Norway
Svalbard (UNIS)
Tromsø
6.500 students
Nord-Norge 463.000 inh. 10 107.000 km2 35
Trondheim
20.000 students
Bergen
16.000 students
Oslo
Stavanger
30.600 students
7.300 students
Ås
Agder
2.800 students
Source DBH og SSB
8.000 students
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Faculties

• Faculty of
• Medicine
• Law
• Science
• Social Sciences
• Humanities
• and
• The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
• The University also houses
• Tromsø University Museum
• University Library

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Distribution of students according to sex and
origin Autumn 2006
Total 5967 students 559 PhD students
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Foreign Students Autumn 2006
10 foreign students from 78 countries Top 10
countries

• 1. Sweden (67)
• 2. Russia (62)
• 3. Germany (55)
• 4. Finland (35)
• 5. Spain (29)
• 6. Denmark (21)
• 7. Great Britain (15)
• 8. Italy (13)
• 9. France/Cameroon/China (11)
• 10. Ethiopia (10)

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Tromsø tyngdepunkt i norsk
polarforskning
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Responsibilities and obligations of the
University of Tromsø
Teaching

• Research

Supporting and strenghtening the civil
society (locally, regionally, nationally
and internationally)
Outreach
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Special focus fields

• The University of Tromsø supports the
  development of outstanding research, both basic
  and applied, in all disciplines, but has a
  special commitment to cross- and
  interdisciplinary research efforts that focus on
  the needs and problems of the North.

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Foreign Students Autumn 2006
10 foreign students from 78 countries Top 10
countries

• 1. Sweden (67)
• 2. Russia (62)
• 3. Germany (55)
• 4. Finland (35)
• 5. Spain (29)
• 6. Denmark (21)
• 7. Great Britain (15)
• 8. Italy (13)
• 9. France/Cameroon/China (11)
• 10. Ethiopia (10)

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The Centre for Theoretical and Computational
Chemistry

• The Centre for Theoretical and Computational
  Chemistry (CTCC) was established in 2007 as a
  Centre of Excellence by the Research Council of
  Norway for a period of 10 years
• The research carried out by the CTCC covers a
  very broad range. Theory and method development
  and application projects are equally emphasized
  at the Centre
• Besides appointing PhD students and postdocs, the
  CTCC will also host visiting students and
  scientists for varying periods

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Norwegian Centre of Remote Technology

• Tromsø has internationally leading expertise in
  remote sensing and Earth observation
• Tromsø Centre of Remote Technology is a
  cooperation initiative between industry, research
  and education
• The Centre will contribute significantly to the
  monitoring and understanding of the environment
  and climate in the High North

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ARCTOS Network

• ARCTOS Network is a large network of 6
  Norwegian, 6 Nordic and 25 international
  institutions.
• Facilitates cooperation on basic and applied
  research and education.
• Supported by a world-class arctic research
  infrastructure.
• 30 international research, networking and
  teaching projects headed by the different parent
  institutions, including some of the largest
  projects in marine ecology in Europe
• Member of two European Network of Excellence
• EUR-OCEANS
• MARBEF
• ARCTIC FRONTIERS The Policy Making conference
  of the High North, arranged by ARCTOS every
  January in Tromsø

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http//www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/islands_oceans_pole
s/arctic_ref802647_1999.jpg
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From North Norway to High North

• North Norway
• Periphery and rural policy
• Government assistance and subsidies
• In the shadow of the cold war
• Problem region
• The High North
• Vast area with abundant resources
• The new petroleum province
• Growth centre
• Region of opportunities

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Oil and gas fever in the Arctic
Norwegian and Russian part of the Barents
Sea Source Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
Melkøya, Hammerfest
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Barents 2020 Main Themes
Sustainable management of the Barents region
Oil Gas
Management of marine resources
Environment
Community, culture and health
Development of industry and commerce

• Oil Gas Exploration Production, Technology
  development, Arctic maritime expertise,
• Management of marine resources Fisheries,
  Ecosystem management, Aquaculture, Marine
  bioprospecting, Arctic maritime expertise,
• Environment Climate change, Pollution,
  Biodiversity,
• Community, culture and health Borderology,
  Law, Culture, Art, Health, Tourism,
• Over-arching key consepts 1) Norwegian-Russian
  co-operation, 2) Indigenous issues, 3)
  Monitoring, 4) Research, 5) Education, 6)
  Information, 7) Coordination 8) Seminars/Dialogue

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Future challenges

• The fight for the youth and talented people
• Creating regional effects of large-scale
  exploitation of natural resources
• The profile and regional engagement of the HEIs
• Increasing RD activities
• Enhancing the general attractiveness of the
  region and its major centres
• The double track of innovation policy and welfare
  policy