NTNU 2020 - Internationally Outstanding
NTNU is a university with a broad academic scope that has its main focus on technology and the natural sciences. The university has about 20 000 students and 4800 staff. NTNU has been given the national responsibility for graduate engineering education in Norway and offers an extensive range of subjects in the natural sciences, technology, the humanities, aesthetic studies, health studies, the social sciences, and financial and economic disciplines. NTNU offers education in the professions: technology, medicine, psychology, architecture, fine art, music, pictorial art, architecture, and teacher education.
NTNU’s research has an international focus and can be characterized by being at the leading edge in specific areas of technology, having a broad disciplinary scope and an interdisciplinary approach. NTNU has selected six thematic interdisciplinary strategic areas that address the key societal challenges where it is especially qualified to make a contribution:
- Energy and petroleum, resources and environment
- Globalization
- Information and communication technology
- Medical technology
- Marine and maritime research
- Materials technology
NTNU has extensive strategic cooperation with SINTEF.
Our role
NTNU’s main tasks are to
- develop and manage knowledge by maintaining, creating and disseminating knowledge in interaction with society
- develop our graduates’ expertise by providing high quality research-based education that has relevance for both the individual and the society
- renew society and contribute to value creation and welfare development – regionally, nationally and globally
Our value statement
NTNU’s value statement is expressed in its strategic plan "Creative, constructive and critical" from 2001.
NTNU is based on the fundamental democratic idea of the university as a critical and independent institution. All NTNU’s activities are to be characterized by openness and high ethical standards.
NTNU is to have a working and learning environment that is compatible with creative interaction, constructive problem-solving and critical assessment. NTNU is to encourage contributions from its students and staff, and promote tolerance irrespective of sex, faith or culture.
NTNU is to search for innovative and sustainable solutions to domestic and global challenges.
Our vision: NTNU Internationally Outstanding 2020
Research and higher education are global activities that can be characterized by increased competition for human and material resources. In such a situation, NTNU has to be continuously engaged in measures to enhance the quality of all activities. NTNU is to have the ambition of being one of the outstanding universities in Europe.
Our vision is that by 2020 NTNU is to be internationally recognized as an outstanding university. Generally accepted criteria, evaluations and assessments are to document that
- NTNU is among the international leaders in selected strong point areas
- NTNU is among the ten leading technological and scientific universities in Europe
- NTNU is among the top 1 % of comprehensive universities in the world
Our challenges
For Norway it is vital to have strong, internationally focused education and research environments. Education and research are competitive factors in any country that is dependent on producing knowledge-intensive products, processes and services. The international success of Norway is dependent on having quality universities with high academic standing. NTNU must therefore
- be characterized by academic and scientific quality and relevance by developing staff competencies and creating the infrastructure and conditions needed to develop leading research groups that meet the innovative requirements of society.
- recruit outstanding students and researchers by having an attractive range of academic programmes and creating competitive working conditions and learning environment
- recruit more women to academic positions, particularly in natural science and technology
- increase our visibility by dissemination and marketing of NTNU’s strong points nationally and internationally
- be a dynamic organization by working towards common priorities and having effective processes and systems to support our core activities
- maintain and develop the university as a distinct democratic institution by enabling students and staff to have freedom of expression and encourage active participation
- generate sufficient investment and operational income by making our expertise visible and engage in activities together with the authorities, funding agencies and industry – regionally, nationally and internationally
Strategic objectives
Research
Research at NTNU is to have recognized international standing in all disciplines. Selected strong point areas are to be at the international leading edge. Research at NTNU is to be characterized by relevance, top-level expertise and interdisciplinary cooperation. The quality of our research is to be further enhanced by actively seeking cooperation and alliances with prominent scientific groups nationally and internationally.
| Dimensions | Objectives 2010 | Objectives 2020 |
| Publications | 25 % of the national publication points (index 2005) | Citation and publication output of tenured staff is to be comparable with the 20 best universities in Europe |
| PhDs | 350 PhD degrees awarded | The total production of graduates per member of the tenured staff is to be above the European average; satisfactory level of international applicants to our PhD programmes |
| External funding | 35 % increase in externally funded research; 100 % increase in EU- funded research (index 2005) | International funding for projects in all selected strategic and strong point areas |
| Interdisciplinary measures | 50 % more publications with authors from more than one faculty; | Interdisciplinary cooperation that is comparable with the 20 best universities in Europe |
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Education
NTNU’s programmes of study and continuing and further education are to be relevant for society and there is to be a demand for our graduates in working life. The education is to be conducted in a learning environment with high academic and pedagogical quality that is characterized by cultural diversity. NTNU is to promote interdisciplinary measures and merge theory with practice. NTNU is to have an international focus and be leading in technological and natural science education. Master’s and doctoral degrees are to be given priority. Continuing and further education is to be strengthened.
| Dimension | Objectives 2010 | Objectives 2020 |
| Educational quality | At least 2.5 primary applicants per place on average | Europe’s most attractive university in selected programmes of study, continuing and further education; competition for all places at NTNU |
| Internationalization | Number of joint student programmes with universities abroad increased by 25 % relative to 2007 levels | Joint programmes of study/ degrees (Master’s/PhD) with universities that are ranked among the 20 best in Europe |
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Dissemination
NTNU is to be the leading university in Norway in terms of dissemination to the general public. It is to have specific responsibility for increasing knowledge about and interest in natural science and technology in society. NTNU’s students and staff are to be stimulated to actively participate in the public debate and transfer of knowledge. Dissemination of art and knowledge are to contribute to strengthening NTNU’s standing and visibility.
| Dimension | Objectives 2010 | Objectives 2020 |
| Dissemination to the general public | 20 % more publications/activities (index 2005) | Highest level in Norway of publications/ general dissemination activities per member of tenured staff |
| Media coverage | Daily mention in national press/media | Regular mention in international media |
| Recognition and standing index | High level of recognition/ good standing among selected target groups | High level of recognition/ good standing among selected target groups internationally |
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Innovation
NTNU and SINTEF are to be national leaders in contributing to research-based spin-off companies and revitalization of the public and private sectors. In selected areas, NTNU is to be among the international leaders. NTNU’s students are to be encouraged to apply their knowledge to innovative commercial activities.
| Dimension | Objectives 2010 | Objectives 2020 |
| Innovation and commercialization | At least 20 spin-offs formed (companies or licensing agreements) | Among Europe’s 10 leading universities in research-driven innovation |
| R&D contracts with user involvement | 50 % increase in the contracted amounts for new R&D projects with user involvement (index 2005) | Among Europe’s 10 leading universities measured in R&D projects per member of the tenured staff |
| Student participation in innovation | 10 companies formed; 50 % more student projects in companies (index 2005) | Among Europe’s 10 leading universities for student participation in innovation |
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Organization and resources
NTNU is to have the physical framework conditions and organizational culture that will help students and staff to develop their competencies and enable NTNU to meet its objectives. NTNU will employ its personnel and economic resources to ensure optimal efficiency. NTNU shall have modern, competitive laboratories and infrastructure, and provide effective administrative services for its students and staff.
| Dimension | Objectives 2010 | Objectives 2020 |
| Work environment | Work environment surveys: 8 of 10 are satisfied or very satisfied on relevant scales | Ranked among Europe’s best based on recognized measures |
| Faculty gender equality | 50 % women newly hired in positions requiring doctoral degrees | Genuine equal opportunities in all disciplines |
| New faculty recruitment | At least 40 % from other institutions, of which at least 20 % are from institutions abroad | Internationally attractive workplace; satisfactory number of external applicants for all positions |
| Economic resources and control | 20 % increase in NTNU’s total resources (index 2005) | Resources per member of the tenured staff are above the European average |
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