Vision
Knowledge for human development and a sustainable society
Østfold University College towards 2030
In a world where global challenges are putting pressure on society, from democratic crises to the climate crisis, disinformation and misinformation, our societal mission is more important than ever. Through education, research, and artistic development work of national and international high quality and relevance, and through our contributions to public debate and knowledge dissemination, we can create a better and sustainable society. We will engage internationally while simultaneously strengthening our visibility and focus with the local community. We will take an active role as a developer of society through collaborations and dialogues with regional businesses and community developers.
Values
- Respectful and tolerant: We have a work and study environment characterized by tolerance, respect, inclusion, and equality. We have a high level of ethical awareness and appreciate the inherent dignity of every individual.
- Critical and free: We promote critical thinking, academic freedom, and open societal debate. Our activities contribute to understanding, rational thinking, and the development of democracy.
- Society-developing: We contribute to increased understanding and solutions to societal and work-life challenges through collaboration, creative thinking, and interdisciplinary knowledge sharing.
Our focus areas
While HiØ will be open, responsive, and exploratory towards emerging fields driven by development, creativity, and initiative, our academic profile will be further expanded and strengthened by prioritizing focus areas that build on our academic strengths, regional affiliations, and national strategies. Collaboration across disciplines and targeted development of relevant academic environments, research, and artistic development work will strengthen our role as a knowledge stakeholder.
The digital society
The digital society highlights the interplay between digitalisation and society from different theoretical perspectives, while also seeking to contribute to the development of technology in a responsible manner. Thematic areas such as education/learning, health/welfare, work life/organization, and enabling technology are fundamental pillars that work together in the priority area. The priority area aims to provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the pervasive changes to society caused by digitalisation and will contribute knowledge to assist in the solutions with society’s challenges. The priority area includes academic environments from all faculties, supports our doctoral program, and aims to ensure that we have the country’s leading interdisciplinary and research environment on digitalisation and society.
Language in education
Language in education will contribute to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of humans as linguistic beings, a knowledge that is necessary for language disciplines to contribute to solving societal challenges. Language is the key to relating to the world and each other, to developing knowledge and processing experiences, and to transmitting knowledge and establishing traditions. The focus area aims to strengthen collaborations across language disciplines and create the conditions for a multifaceted research and teaching environment that is strong both nationally and internationally. Language in education will help position us as the country’s leading language academic environment.
Østfold University College in 2030
- We educate people who, with commitment and knowledge, will contribute to a sustainable society.
- Our students are educated through high-quality, knowledge-based teaching and have an active role and influence in the development of their studies and study environments.
- We attract students through socially relevant, creative, and future-oriented programs at attractive campuses.
- We are a regional strength where knowledge is used and developed in collaboration with the community around us.
- We have outstanding academic communities that utilize interdisciplinary approaches as an advantage for innovation and development.
- We have leading and recognized academic communities within research and artistic development work, closely linked to our educational programs and anchored in targeted initiatives and priorities.
- We have a strong reputation because we attract, develop, and retain talent.
- We are in demand for our contributions to lifelong learning for change, social participation, and increased quality of life.
We succeed because we:
- recognize and invest in excellent teaching and learning processes.
- develop strong academic communities in research and artistic development work.
- develop high-quality support services that supports our core activities.
- support creativity and innovation.
- secure external funding for large and strategically significant projects.
- appreciate education being in close connection with research and artistic development work.
- have clear tracks for talent and career development.
- are a visible and respected societal stakeholder.
- facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, internships, and work experience practicums.
- build alliances and targeted collaborations with national and international expertise environments.
- actively collaborate on education, research, artistic development work, and disseminate with communities and businesses.
- develop our campuses for well-being, sustainability, and future needs.