Norwegian University of Science and Technology: A History of Innovation and Academic Excellence

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) stands as a prominent public research university in Norway, renowned for its specialization in technology and the natural sciences, while also offering a diverse array of programs across various disciplines. As the largest university in Norway in terms of enrollment, NTNU plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation's intellectual landscape and contributing to global advancements in science, technology, and beyond.

Historical Roots and Evolution

NTNU's history is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of several institutions, each contributing to its unique identity. The earliest roots trace back to 1760 with the establishment of the Trondheim Academy. This was followed by a series of mergers with other higher education institutions. The university's present form was established in 1996.

Trondheim Academy: The Seed of Knowledge (1760)

In 1760, Trondheim Academy was founded, marking the beginning of academic endeavors in the region. In 1767, upon recognition by the Danish-Norwegian king, it was renamed the Royal Norwegian Society of Science and Letters (DKNVS). The Trondheim Academy holds the distinction of being Norway's first academic society.

The Dawn of Engineering Education (1870-1910)

In 1870, Trondhjems Tekniske Læreanstalt (Trondheim Technical College) or TTL was established, educating engineers in various fields. By 1898, TTL had expanded, moving to a larger building in Munkegata. The early 20th century saw a growing need for advanced technical education, culminating in the Norwegian Parliament's resolution in 1900 to establish the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) in Trondheim. NTH officially opened on September 15, 1910, with five academic departments: Architecture and Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Chemistry.

Consolidation and Expansion (1968-1996)

The University of Trondheim (UNiT) was established in 1968, and the Department of Medicine (later the Faculty of Medicine) was established as part of UNiT in 1974. It was designed by the architect Henning Larsen. The vision of a unified Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim began to take shape in the late 20th century. As early as 1989, NTH Rector Karsten Jakobsen proposed the idea. On January 1, 1996, the University of Trondheim merged with other university-level institutions to become the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Later, some former university colleges were also incorporated.

Read also: Norwegian for English Speakers

Recent Developments (2012-2016)

The popular trivia game Kahoot was founded in 2012 by Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker and Morten Versvik in a joint project with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. In 2014, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research initiated a review of the country's higher education landscape. NTNU's board decided on January 28, 2015, to merge with the University Colleges of Sør-Trøndelag, Ålesund, and Gjøvik, forming a new, expanded university. On January 1, 2016, the merger officially took effect, establishing NTNU campuses in Ålesund and Gjøvik, in addition to Trondheim. The number of NTNU faculties increased from seven to nine - including the University Museum - with approximately 39,000 students and approximately 2,500 PhD students.

Academic Programs and Faculties

NTNU offers a broad spectrum of academic programs across its nine faculties, encompassing a wide range of disciplines. The university specializes in technology and the natural sciences, but also offers a range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes in the humanities, social sciences, economics and public and business administration, and aesthetic disciplines.

Civil and Environmental Engineering
Geosciences
Marine Technology
ICT and Natural Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Architecture and Planning
Management
Economics
Fine Arts
Material Science
Clinical and Molecular Medicine
Neuro-medicine and Movement Science
Circulation and Medical Imaging
Public Health and Nursing
Systems Neuroscience

NTNU's commitment to providing a comprehensive education is evident in the diverse range of programs available to students. The university welcomes students from all over the world, and offers more than 60 international master programmes as well as PhD programmes, which all are taught in English. There are no tuition fees at NTNU for Norwegian students and students from European Union, however students do pay "semesteravgift" every semester.

Here are some specific examples of Master's programmes offered at NTNU:

Biotechnology
Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management
Cold Climate Engineering
Creative Music Technology
Electric Power Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Global Manufacturing Management
Hydrogen Systems and Enabling Technologies
Biology and Sustainability
Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Geotechnics and Geohazards
Globalisation and Sustainable Development
Health Management in Aquaculture
Hydropower Development
Mathematical Sciences
Molecular Medicine
Neuroscience
Ocean Resources
Choreomundus
Fine Art
Industrial Design
Music Performance Studies
Product and System Design
Sustainable Architecture
Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security
International Business and Marketing
Management of Innovation and Sustainable Business Development
Project Management
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS)
Applied Computer Science
Informatics
Information Security
Marine and Maritime Intelligent Robotics
Childhood Studies
European Studies

Campuses and Facilities

NTNU operates across three main campuses located in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund, each offering a unique learning environment and specialized facilities.

Read also: Learn Norwegian as a Beginner

Trondheim: As the primary hub, the Trondheim campus is a center of vibrant student life. NTNU has several campuses in Trondheim; Gløshaugen - for engineering and natural sciences - and Dragvoll - for humanities and social sciences - are the main two campuses. Other campuses include Tyholt for marine technology, Øya for medicine, Kalvskinnet for archaeology, Midtbyen for the music conservatory and Nedre Elvehavn for the art academy. NTNU Gløshaugen is an artistic combination of historical NTH buildings and modern buildings. It is regarded as the best student town in Norway. The campus provides access to hiking and skiing opportunities, allowing students to appreciate Norway's natural beauty. The college bridge (Høyskolebrua) connects Campus Gløshaugen to Trondheim Bakklandet. The Faculty is integrated with St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, and is located in Campus Øya in Trondheim. Its main areas of research are translational research, medical technology and health surveys, biobanks and registers.
Gjøvik and Ålesund: These campuses contribute to NTNU's regional presence, offering specialized programs and fostering collaboration with local industries.

All NTNU campuses provide students with access to essential facilities, including libraries, student unions, halls of residence and dormitories, and sports grounds.

Research and Innovation

NTNU's commitment to research is a cornerstone of its mission. The university has a strong focus on research and its faculty are involved in a wide range of projects, including developing new technologies, improving healthcare, and enhancing environmental sustainability. NTNU is home to 4377 research and scientific staff who conduct research in over 120 research centres and laboratories, carrying out over 2000 projects. These research centres contribute highly to Norway’s reputation as a research hub in the Scandinavian countries.

NTNU has four strategic areas of research:

NTNU Sustainability
NTNU Energy
NTNU Oceans
NTNU Health

NTNU’s research forms part of the ongoing activities through a variety of projects and programmes in addition to specialized centres. NTNU also works closely with SINTEF, Scandinavia's largest independent research institute and one of the largest contract research organizations in Europe, which is integrated into NTNU Campuses. NTNU and SINTEF have established a wide range of Gemini Centres.

Specific research initiatives and facilities include:

NTNU NanoLab: Providing a collaborative research environment for scientists in physics, chemistry, biology, electrical engineering, materials technology, and medical research.
SINTEF Energy Lab: Offering tools for the development of energy solutions and power systems, with experimental facilities in various areas of Electric Power Engineering.
The Gas Technology Centre: Focusing on multidisciplinary research within the natural gas value chain.
MARINTEK: Working to develop cost-effective and high-performance ships using model testing in laboratories.
Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre: A collaboration between Rolls-Royce Marine, MARINTEK, and NTNU, focusing on propellers, propulsion systems, ship designs, and ship equipment.

NTNU Research Excellence is an initiative to develop elite researchers and research groups in international class, which was launched in 2013, and includes established and new initiatives. The established initiatives are financed by the Research Council of Norway, the EU, and private-sectors (R&D), while the new initiatives are funded by NTNU's own funds in light of strategic prioritization of NTNU's resources. These cover a number of research funding schemes including Outstanding Academic Fellows Programme, Onsager Fellowship Programme, K.G.

International Collaboration and Recognition

NTNU fosters a global perspective through extensive international collaborations. NTNU has more than 300 cooperative or exchange agreements with 60 universities worldwide, and several international student exchange programmes. The university also participates in UArctic's mobility program north2north.

NTNU is ranked 1st in the World for its corporate links according to Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings. Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranks the university in the top 150 universities in the world. According to Times Higher Education World University Rankings published in March 2017, NTNU is ranked first in the world ranking of universities with the biggest corporate links, due to its research collaboration with SINTEF.

Student Life and Opportunities

NTNU offers a vibrant student life with numerous organizations and activities. The most famous student organization is the Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem, also known as "the red round house" after its architectural form; every other year it organizes a cultural festival UKA. Another festival organized by students is the International Student Festival in Trondheim ISFiT, which awards a student peace prize and draws internationally known speakers. EMECS-thon is a student driven embedded systems marathon competition, organized by students from NTNU and implemented in some of the top universities worldwide, where participants have 48 hours to develop an embedded project from scratch. The student sports organization, NTNUI, has roughly 10 000 members in its many branches. A cabin and cottage organization owns several cabins in the countryside, available for students wishing to spend a few days away.

NTNU students have a clear presence in the city of Trondheim. NTNU is a pioneer with of the concept of "Student Cabins", the NTNUI offers its students access to cabins on the outskirts of the city of Trondheim in which they can enjoy on vacations and weekends.

NTNU Career is the students career service. We offer courses, lectures and counselling in the areas: improvement of study and exam skills, increased awareness of competence and job applications. You can also search for collaboration with an employer for your thesis, as well as internships or jobs in our careers portal, NTNU Bridge.

tags: #Norwegian #University #of #Science #and #Technology