Global challenges at UiB

Inequality

Inequalities are at the core of global challenges. We experience pervasive disparities in resources, health, safety, and access to education. ​Power inequality shape institutions both nationally and globally.

While inequalities can be unfair, unjust and problems to be mitigated, inequality also reflect important diversity and variation—essential aspects of culture and freedom.​

​Teaching, research and action on inequality must be informed by its many dimensions and how they vary across contexts, domains and disciplines. ​

We have therefore chosen inequality as our focus area for Global Challenges at UiB starting in 2025.​

Find out what we worked on in 2024 (pdf).

Education

UiB is developing and co-ordinating relevant courses and programmes to equip students for the challenges lying ahead. With its international expertise and focus, the University of Bergen aims to be the destination of choice for all students interested in global issues.

The faculties at UiB will co-operate to provide knowledge about complex global challenges. Students will gain the necessary competencies to handle the intricacy and interdisciplinarity of tomorrow’s global challenges. Administrative barriers for interdisciplinary co-operation between faculties at UiB will be removed.

Research

Interdisciplinarity is necessary to conduct research that will impact global challenges. UiB encourages co-operation across disciplines and faculties, and will especially promote interdisciplinary research in the areas of migration, health and inequality, as these three topics addresses key global challenges.

UiB aims to establish strong interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers and research groups. Collaboration between research schools will be encouraged, and educating young interdisciplinary researchers will be prioritised.

Organisation
In order to anchor and coordinate this effort at all levels across the University, a strategic working group with representatives from all the faculties has been given the responsibility for further developing UiB’s global challenges’ strategy. The Deans at all seven faculties at UiB form a steering group.

The strategy work receives special administrative support from a unit at Faculty of Medicine. This administrative unit will, in particular, work to promote research and education related to global challenges, and organise meeting places for students, PhD-candidates, researchers and society in general.

The work on global challenges was officially launched 15 May 2017 with a day-long seminar in the University Aula, attended by over 200 participants.