Strategy 2026-2035

Faculty of Engineering

Strategy 2026-2035

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Strategy

Vision: Knowledge for a better world

For the Faculty of Engineering, Knowledge for a better world means using our expertise to drive technological development, create sustainable solutions, promote value creation and shape the future through research, education and innovation.

We shall develop knowledge in accordance with the norms of society and science, for the common good.

Social Mission

Society's needs

Since the Industrial Revolution, engineering has played a key role in societal development and has enabled a level of prosperity unparalleled in world history. At the same time, this development has led to sustainability challenges.

Society’s need for engineering expertise is evolving in step with the demands and changes we face today. The transition to a sustainable, zero-emission society requires new knowledge, technology and innovation to drive future value creation. Norway still has abundant natural resources and must utilise them in a sustainable manner. Adapting to climate change and the need for resilient infrastructure present new challenges. The green shift requires land and resources, and we must find solutions that also safeguard biodiversity. A changing security policy landscape places greater expectations on engineering’s contribution to civil protection. Artificial intelligence and quantum technology offer great opportunities, but require responsible development and management. Society places high demands on engineering science, and we take our responsibility seriously.

The Faculty of Engineering’s social mission

The Faculty of Engineering at NTNU plays a key role in the university’s scientific and technological profile. Our social mission is to develop, manage and make engineering knowledge accessible in order to ensure future value creation and sustainable global development. We ensure high international standards in research, education and dissemination through interdisciplinary collaboration with other faculties, internationally recognised institutions and national stakeholders. Communicating our activities is important and must be based on academic freedom. The Faculty of Engineering has a special responsibility to develop, manage, educate and disseminate knowledge that contributes to:

All five of our academic domains (civil engineering, manufacturing, energy, geosciences and marine technology) require expertise across a wide range of disciplines, including sustainability, project management, safety, reliability and maintenance, as well as enabling technologies such as digitalisation, materials technology and nanotechnology. The Faculty of Engineering actively promotes the necessary transformation within its academic domains, with a particular focus on developing educational programmes that integrate comprehensive sustainability and digitalisation expertise.

Ambitions

Content

Vision
Social Mission
Ambitions
Vision 2035
Prerequisites

Related resources

Strategy Documents
Vision and Values

Ambition 1: The Faculty of Engineering is outstanding both nationally and internationally

Research, education and infrastructure at the Faculty of Engineering shall be outstanding and maintain a high international standard. We shall be a cornerstone of NTNU’s technical and scientific profile, and a leader in academia in Norway and Europe. We shall be internationally prominent across the full range of the faculty’s domains.

We achieve this by:

Developing strong global partnerships
We shall strengthen global partnerships and networks by collaborating with leading universities and research institutions, and we shall promote participation in national and international research projects and educational collaborations.
Being a driving force for outstanding research
We shall increase both the quality and volume of our research activities through participation in research programmes in Norway and Europe. Outstanding research will help us attract PhD research fellows and leading researchers from around the world. Our laboratories and infrastructure must be of the highest standard, enabling high-quality research and strengthening national and international collaboration on infrastructure.
Providing outstanding education
Our educational programmes shall be attractive and recognised as outstanding both nationally and internationally. Our graduates shall be highly sought after in the job market, and the Faculty of Engineering shall be the first choice for young people seeking an education within the field of engineering. Our graduates possess excellent academic expertise, strong digital and sustainability skills tailored to their respective fields, and are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the future. We shall continue to develop our educational expertise and strengthen our efforts to renew forms of learning, teaching and assessment. Our educational programmes shall be research-based, with active use of laboratories and fieldwork to promote learning, relevance and student engagement.

Ambition 2: The Faculty of Engineering is a driver of innovative and sustainable societal development

Our contribution to society must be clear and measurable. The Faculty of Engineering shall be a leading provider of expertise for innovative and sustainable transformation, both nationally and internationally.

We achieve this by:

Promoting and highlighting our contribution to society
We shall strengthen our visibility and collaborate closely with trade and industry and government agencies. We highlight our contribution to society by sharing knowledge, building relationships, taking joint initiatives and being an active voice in the public debate. For Norwegian trade and industry, organisations and government agencies, we shall be the preferred partner in engineering education, research and innovation.
Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and resource utilisation
We shall strengthen collaboration across units at the Faculty of Engineering and NTNU, and utilise resources more efficiently. We shall be a collaborative faculty by reinforcing the interdisciplinary opportunities offered by NTNU. Our interdisciplinary approach will serve as a strategic competitive advantage. We shall realise the benefits of the NTNU Campus Unification project by strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration through the establishment of strong academic links between the humanities, social sciences, medicine, economics, natural sciences and technology.
Harnessing knowledge for innovation and sustainable transition
Our role is to deliver graduates and knowledge that contribute to the transition and development needed to build a sustainable society for future generations. Through our education, research and infrastructure, we shall be a driver of innovative technologies. We shall create ecosystems for students and staff that facilitate the development of solutions to societal needs.

Vision 2035 – The Faculty of Engineering as driver of sustainable development

The Faculty of Engineering is the preferred partner in the field of engineering. The Faculty of Engineering has an outstanding culture of research and innovation and first-class research infrastructure. The Faculty of Engineering has established the best engineering programmes both nationally and internationally. Students feel that the teaching, facilities and the faculty’s ability to collaborate have provided them with a unique education that is in high demand.

We are winning the battle for the best talent among both students and staff.

The Faculty of Engineering helps create new sustainable growth industries that have been and remain key to Norway’s transition to a sustainable society. The Faculty of Engineering contributes to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions in traditional operations. We are a driving force in encouraging Norwegian industry and knowledge-based companies to adopt new and groundbreaking technology.

We meet society’s needs because we have dared to invest. This has been essential in enabling the Faculty of Engineering to reach the position it has today.

Prerequisites for Success

A good learning and working environment for everyone

The Faculty of Engineering at NTNU is an appealing workplace that attracts and retains the best employees across all job categories. It does this by offering excellent working conditions and supporting their professional development. We have an inclusive learning and working environment characterised by respect and diversity of opinion. We are actively working to improve gender balance and diversity among our students and staff, as we have found that this contributes to a better working environment and the advancement of knowledge. To attract and retain the best students, we offer high-quality teaching as well as a positive physical and psychosocial learning environment. This setting promotes well-being and success, and fosters curiosity, interdisciplinary understanding and critical thinking. The Faculty of Engineering promotes student well-being and a sense of belonging through activities in both academic and leisure settings. This is done in collaboration with student organisations and by encouraging students to actively participate in NTNU’s learning community. We embrace diversity and inclusion by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to respect different perspectives, cultures and backgrounds. The Faculty of Engineering promotes a global perspective through international collaboration, including student mobility. A culture shaped by NTNU’s values, strong collaboration throughout the organisation and a shared leadership culture makes the Faculty of Engineering an attractive workplace where everyone thrives and develops. Former students and employees shall be proud ambassadors for NTNU and recognise the value of continued collaboration and contact. Our work is characterised by collegial cooperation across educational, research and administrative fields. Physical presence is essential for maintaining a strong professional and social working and learning environment.

Academic freedom

The Faculty of Engineering has autonomy over its programmes of study and research priorities, which strengthens its role as an independent knowledge institution. The Faculty of Engineering shall work to safeguard academic freedom, as defined in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, as a fundamental prerequisite for our academic activities. We shall protect our independence both at the institutional level and in relation to our academic staff. We shall support our employees’ opportunities to participate in public debate with research-based knowledge. Academic freedom also means that we work in accordance with recognised standards of integrity and quality within our fields, and that we have a responsibility to help ensure that other academic communities adhere to the same standards. Staff members at the Faculty of Engineering also have an academic responsibility to help fulfil NTNU’s social mission.

Sustainable infrastructure and operations

Laboratories and infrastructure are essential to achieving our ambitions of excellence in education and research. They must be both environmentally and financially sustainable, as well as modern and functional for our core activities. We are involved in infrastructure projects both at NTNU and externally, in collaboration with other partners. Examples of key infrastructure include the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre. Student learning spaces are essential for high-quality education and shall support both individual and collaborative learning. We shall provide identity spaces where students can meet, learn and feel a sense of belonging. Our infrastructure is operated efficiently and holistically, with facilitation of shared use and coordination where it makes financial and academic sense. The Faculty of Engineering shall have a sustainable economy that ensures favourable conditions for success. It is therefore important that students and PhD research fellows have a high completion rate. We prioritise collaboration and the division of labour among our departments and with other faculties in order to achieve our ambitions and create opportunities for specialisation and focused efforts.

A competent and flexible administrative and technical staff

At the Faculty of Engineering, we have a competent and flexible administrative and technical staff that works closely with our core activities. We are known for our willingness to adapt, our efficiency and our ability to deliver high-quality services tailored to the needs of the organisation. Going forward, adaptability and implemention capacity will be crucial to our success. We use systems and processes that ensure high quality in everything we do, and we utilise the opportunities offered by digital tools. We are a driving force behind the development of administrative tools and work processes. Collaboration, resource utilisation and the division of labour across levels and units are key to our way of working. We work as a team, in networks, with the aim of continuously improving and developing new services based on the organisation’s needs.

An organisation equipped to face the future

The Faculty of Engineering will implement NTNU’s strategy, carry out initiatives and help achieve results. We prioritise, lead the way and are able to motivate the organisation. towards change and goal attainment. Through effective leadership and sound governance, we create the conditions for further development. Creating a good working environment is an important leadership responsibility. In order to be fully prepared to face the future, we require extensive collaboration on many levels, both within and outside NTNU. Internally, we shall work as a single faculty and a single NTNU. We strengthen our strategic resilience by identifying, understanding and managing critical uncertainties. This makes us better equipped to make timely decisions, strengthen our adaptability, and seize opportunities in a complex and unpredictable landscape.

Språkvelger

Strategy for the Faculty of Engineering