International collaboration
The University of Bergen is a member of several international networks and organisations. Here you find our selected partners.
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ARQUS Alliance
Arqus Alliance brings together seven comprehensive research universities with strong regional involvement: Bergen, Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon, Padova and Vilnius. Arqus is one of 17 European Universities consortia selected and funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme.
The Alliance’s name stems from the Latin term arcus or arquus, for arch, building bridges toward a shared future. Arqus aims to better respond to the grand global societal challenges and to advance towards deeper European integration.
Our principal ambition is to design, test and implement an innovative model for deep inter-university cooperation, enabling students, staff and the society at large. By bringing together students and researchers with diverse backgrounds from the partner universities, we will enhance the quality of teaching and learning, and to strengthen our joint research capacity.
Regional engagement, innovation and service to society are key features of the Alliance, and we invite stakeholders to get involved.
The Brussels office
The University of Bergen Brussels Office is established to strengthen the University presence in EU research politics and as a resource for researchers who wish to strenghten international collaborations.
The University of Bergen Brussels office was formally established 15 September 2015. Through this office, the University will be able to offer assistance to researchers who need information, wish to build networks, or establish new partnerships in Brussels and the EU. The office is a joint venture between the University of Bergen, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, SINTEF (the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia) and NORCE.
CLACSO - Latin American Council of Social Sciences
The Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) was established in 1967. It brings together more than 600 research institutions/institutes all over the world, especially within social sciences and the humanities.
Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO)
Among other things, CLACSO works to:
- "promote social research in order to combat poverty and inequality, strengthen human rights as well as democratic participation"
- "build bridges between social research and public policy, fostering innovative, creative and feasible actions to address the great social, educational, cultural and environmental challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean"
- "provide conditions for open access to Latin American and Caribbean academic productions, thereby, democratizing the access to knowledge and allowing for its more active use by public policymakers, social and civic organizations, the press and the university system"
A huge number of open access scholarly publications can be found in the CLACSO Virtual Library
Live and recorded tv-programmes are available on CLACSOtv
FACTS ABOUT CLACSO:
- World's largest network - based in Latin America - for Latin American studies
- Headquarter in Buenos Aires
- Current Secretary General, Dr. Karina Batthyány (elected in November 2018)
- Over 110 academic working groups
- More than 1300 books published by CLACSO
- UiB has an MoU with CLACSO, and has been an associated member of CLACSO since 2016.
- Hans Egil Offerdal is UiB's liason to CLACSO
- www.clacso.org
The Coimbra Group
Coimbra Group is an association of 39 European universities dedicated to promote internationalisation, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society for the benefit of its member universities.
The Coimbra Group aims to influence European education and research policy and to develop best practice through the mutual exchange of experience. It will promote academic and cultural heritage in higher education in the 21st century and promote the role of comprehensive multidisciplinary research universities in today’s changing global scene. The network has established 11 Working Groups to advance the 3 Policy Pillars of the Coimbra Group:
The member universities collaborate on many Coimbra Group initiatives: Summer/Winter Schools, Scholarship Programmes for young researchers from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and East European Neighbourhood, High-level Policy Seminars, PhD training workshops, EU funded Research, Education and Outreach projects, and more.
Hans Egil Offerdal is UiB's institutional contact for the Coimbra Group.
More details on the Coimbra Group website.
The Inter University Centre Dubrovnik
The Inter University Centre Dubrovnik (IUC), established in 1972, is an independent centre for advanced study, grounded in and sustained by its international network of partner universities.
The Inter University Centre (IUC), established in 1972 by a group of scholars, aims to provide an open space for critical academic thinking and scientific innovation. Research groups and lecturers at all member universities can use the attractive facilities of the IUC for their teaching, and seminars/workshops. Building upon its location and its history the IUC Dubrovnik serves as a bridge between regions within Europe and between the European region and the world by connecting scientific communities and connecting communities through science.
The IUC emphasizes and supports inter-disciplinary and cross-national collaboration on global challenges such as human universal values and rights, health, education, poverty and climate, encouraging, in addition to east-west collaboration also new north-south initiatives. Approximately 60 research based courses and 10 shcolarly conferences are organized every year at the IUC.
The IUC provides infrastructure, services and facilities to member universities for organizing courses and seminars (conference hall for 110 participants, 7 classrooms of different sizes, computer rooms, free wi-fi, cafeteria and nearby restaurants). An adjacent dormitory (with individual bathrooms) can be reserved for course participants. If you want to organize a course/event at the IUC, please see here for more information.
IUC@UiB:
Hans Egil Offerdal (auditor of IUC, and UiB’s liason to the centre)
More details on the IUC website.
Nordic Centre in India
Nordic Centre in India is a consortium of member universities in the Nordic countries with its main office in Delhi and study programmes office in Hyderabad.
The Nordic Centre in India (NCI) has leading expertise on higher education and research in India. It is a resource for promoting Nordic research in India and to assist its members in collaboration with Indian higher education and research institutions. The NCI office is located in the southern part of Delhi, in Nizamuddin East. It is possible for NCI members to use the office facilities for organizing meetings and smaller academic events. There are also three guest rooms available free of cost for short-term stays for visitors from the member universities.
NCI provides service, practical assistance and help to visitors from member universities who want to interact with Indian university partners, organizations or business. The Nordic Centre in India has a lot to offer researchers, students and teaching staff who want to do research or studies in India. On behalf of its member universities, NCI can organize study programmes and research meetings, workshops, seminars, lectures and events in fields like humanities, social sciences, law, business studies, health sciences, science and technology and more.
More details on the NCI website.
FACTS NCI
- Cooperation agreement with educational and research institutions in India.
- Main office in Delhi with space for small meetings and events and guest rooms for short-term stays free of cost for Nordic members.
- Study programmes office organizing and offering semester programmes, summer programmes, language programmes and internship opportunities for students from the Nordic member universities.
Nordic Centre in Shanghai
The Nordic Centre in China is located at the main campus of Fudan University in Shanghai. It was established in 1995 by 14 Nordic Universities in cooperation with Fudan.
University of Bergen was one of the founding members of the Nordic Centre by the initiative of professor Stein Kuhnle. The Nordic Centre has (in 2017) 24 Nordic member universities.
The Nordic Centre serves as:
- A platform for initiating and developing research and educational programmes, conferences, and workshops of mutual interest to Nordic and Chinese scholars.
- A teaching institution for Chinese students and scholars who study the Nordic countries, and for Nordic students and scholars pursuing study of China.
- An organiser of programmes and courses for the Nordic business community in Shanghai.
The Nordic Centre is governed by the Nordic Centre Council (representatives from all member universities) which meets twice a year. In between the council meetings, the NC Board is managing decisions. The current Chair of the Board is the Dean of School business, economics and law, University of Gothenburg, Professor Per Cramér.
FACTS ABOUT THE NORDIC CENTRE:
- Located at Fudan University, one of Asia's top universities
- Nordic Centre has served as a vehicle for research and education within all kinds of disciplines since 1995
- Director of Nordic Centre, Fudan University: Professor Lu Li’an
- NC-staff at Fudan University
- The Nordic Centre Secretariat is hosted (2021 - ) by the University of Gothenburg, and headed by Linn Gabrielsson
- www.nordicentre.net
Nordic Institute of Asian Studies
NIAS - the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies - is an academically independent Nordic research and resource center, focusing on modern Asia from a predominantly social sciences perspective.
NIAS is more than a research institute. It is also a resource centre containing a wide array of knowledge and skills, and with a broad network of contacts connecting people and institutions with expertise on Asia. Through conferences and workshops, accessible information resources, commentary on current affairs, and contact with media, government and businesses, NIAS constantly seeks to broaden knowledge of modern Asia in the Nordic region. The core activities of NIAS are:
- Independent research
- Support for research, networks and education
- Provision of expert information, resources and services
- Sceintific publishing
- Dissemination of research
- Academic exchange and networks
NIAS operates a a Nordic organization with a Nordic perspective and has a contractual relationshop with the Nordic Council of Ministers. NIAS is an integrated part of the University of Copenhagen and member universities and research institutions in the Nordic countries are represented in the Nordic NIAS Council. Scholars, Master and PhD students from member institutions have prioritized access to the NIAS Support Programme for Asian Studies (SUPRA), including:
- Workplaces at NIAS for Master students
- Offices for PhD students
- SUPRA Nordic Scholarships
- Guest researchers stays
- Asia in Focus online journal
More details on the NIAS website.
FACTS NIAS
- Located at the University of Copenhagen
- Nordic hub for Asian studies
- SUPRA - Support Programme for Asian Studies for students and scholars from member institutions
- Independent research
- Digital library and online information resources
- Scholarly press publishing innovative research on modern Asia
- www.nias.ku.dk
The Nordic Institute at Athens
The institute connects the Norwegian and Greek academic communities and is dedicated to teaching, research and dissemination of scientific results related to humanities and social sciences. Its particular focus is on the cultural heritage, history and archaeology of Greece and the Mediterranean.
Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study
UiB is a founding member of the Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study.
The objective of the Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study is to strengthen ongoing research collaborations and foster the development of new research collaborations between the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the consortium of participating Norwegian academic institutions.
The center offers grants which can be used for workshops, pilot studies and data collection, among other things. For a detailed decription and application form, please se the Peter Sather grant web page.
The Peder Sather Center is named after the Norwegian banker - and co-founder of UC Berkeley - Peder Sæther (1810-1886). In 2014 the University of California Press published the book The Immigrant and the University. Peder Sather and Gold Rush California by Karin Sveen.
In the period 2021-2022 the University of Bergen hosts the Peder Sather Secretariat. Head of the Secretariat is Annette K. Servan.
PEDER SATHER CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDY
- Established in 2012
- Norwegian concortium of eight academic institutions:
- BI Norwegian Business School (BI)
- Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- University of Agder (UiA)
- University of Bergen (UiB)
- University of Oslo (UiO)
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- 109 funded projects in the period 2012-2017
- sathercenter.berkeley.edu
The Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD)
SANORD is a network of 29 Southern African and 22 Nordic universities committed to advance strategic and academic collaboration by seeking to address new local and global challenges of innovtation and development.
The Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) was established in 2006. Three Southern African and four Nordic universities, including UiB, were the founders of SANORD. University of Western Cape in Cape Town is hosting the SANORD office and secretariat. The mission of SANORD is to promote opportunities for student and staff exchange and facilitate research and educational collaboration between the members, and to develop relationships with other academic networks, donors and business community. The annual SANORD Conference and General Assembly is hosted by a member institution in the Southern African or the Nordic region and takes place in association with project workshops and a major SANORD conference.
SANORD stimulates multilateral research and innovation by teaming up researchers across intitutional, disciplinary and national boundaries. This is done in various ways, for instance with seed money support for establishing Theme Group Projects and by call for abstracts, workshops and Panels/Special Interest Groups in conjunction with the annual SANORD conference.
SANORD give students the opportunity to attend summer/winter schools, take up internships, go on exchange programmes and more. The Brian O´Connell Scholarship Programme provides stipends for master students from Southern Africa to spend 1 semester at one of the Nordic member institutions.
SANORD@UiB:
Bjørn Erik Andersen (contact)
More details on the SANORD website.
FACTS SANORD
- 29 Southern African and 22 Nordic member institutions.
- Established in 2006 on the initiative of UiB academics.
- Main office and secretariat at the University of Western Cape in Cape Town.
- Provide assistance and support to members for organizing conferences, workshops, seminars, thematic research groups, study programmes etc.
UiB - Makerere Collaboration Programme
The collaboration between Makerere University and the University of Bergen dates back to 1988. This collaboration was formalised three years later, and reconfirmed in 2014 by Makerere’s Vice-Chancellor John Ddumba-Ssentamu and UiB Rector Dag Rune Olsen at a ceremony in Kampala.
The new 10 year frame agreement sees the two universities increasingly partner in joint research and teaching, as well as exchange of staff and graduate students. It is an important element in the strategic work between scientists from the two universities.
This close relationship has led to a permanent UiB office on the Makerere campus, available for anyone in need of office facilities while in Uganda.
University of the Arctic
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North.
The University of the Arctic comprises nearly 200 member institutions, mainly in the circumpolar Arctic region of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia, USA and Canada. UArctic has also signed partnership agreements with 12 organisations, including six permanent participants of the Arctic Council.
The UArctic members share resources, facilities and expertise to do research and build post-secondary education programs that are relevant and accessible to students and researchers.
More details on the UArctic website.
The Utrecht Network
The Utrecht Network brings together 30 European universities in 24 countries with a common mission to share best practice and enhance the internationalisation process for both students and staff.
The Utrecht Network is particularly committed to areas of activity such as student and staff mobility, summer schools, the internationalisation of curriculum, joint curricula and double/joint degrees. To advance these activities, the Utrecht Network has set up five Task Forces:
- Internationalisation of Curricula Task Force
- Research MobilityTask Force
- Staff Mobility Task Force
- Student Mobility Task Force
- Summer School Task Force
The Utrecht Network Young Researchers Grant is designed to promote and further enhance the Network’s support to students and staff as well as broaden mobility between the Network’s institutions. Scholarships of € 1,000 each, will be offered to students, who might not be eligible for other scholarship programmes such as ERASMUS+ (e.g. length of stay is under 3 months). The grant is limited to thesis research on masters or PhD level. Students are allowed to take courses, but priority will be given to ‘research-only’ PhD students.
The Utrecht Network is indeed a European network with a global outlook. It has well established links with partner universities in Australia, United States and Brazil.
- Cooperation with the AEN (Australia-European Network) offers students the opportunity to apply for a study placement in six Australian universities.
- Coperation with the MAUI Network (Mid-America Universities International) offers students the opportunity to apply for placement in 11 American universities on 14 campuses.
- Cooperation with REARi-RJ offers students opportunities for placement in 13 universities in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
More details on the Utrecht Network website.
Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)
The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is a leading global higher education and research network made up of 23 universities, spanning 13 countries on 6 continents working together to drive international research collaboration and address issues of global significance.
WUN research is focusing on four Global Challenge areas:
- Responding to Climate Change
- Public Health (with emphasis on non-communicable diseases)
- Understanding Culture
- Global Higher Education and Research
The backdrop of these initiatives are the Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by the UN in 2015. The WUN research partners are committed to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in collaboration with and support from prolific partners such as the United Nations Foundation, OECD, World Health Organization and International Organization of Migration. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides the frame for this collaboration. Within each of these areas is a collection of high-quality collaborative research programmes involving a number of WUN member universities along with other academic institutions, government, international agencies, foundations and industry.
The WUN Research Mobility Programme (RMP) provides opportunities for early-career researchers, including postgraduate and postdoctoral students, to expand their knowledge, gain international experience and broaden their professional networks.
The WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) is an annual competitive fund aimed at bringing together researchers to undertake innovative, high quality, sustainable research that addresses global challenges.
Read more on the WUN website.
FACTS WUN
- Established in 2000
- 23 member universities in 13 countries spanning 6 continents
- International research focusing on four Global Challenges
- Cross-cutting resource group Global Africa
- Research Development Fund to initiate novel global research projects
- Research Mobility Program to foster international career for young researchers
- Convening international research workshops, seminars, and symposia
