Guidelines and tools for responsible international knowledge cooperation

One hour from Brazil: CAPES presents CAPES-Global.edu

Læring i nord 2025 – Basic Skills in the Nordic countries: New data, next steps

Networking lunch

Welcome adresses

Icebreaker activity 

All about INCP2 2024-2027

Sharing Good Practices and Success Stories 

Closing of day 1 

Reception at the Residence of the Ambassador of Norway to India 

Welcome and coffee mingle

Collaboration with business - part 1

Collaboration with business -part 2

Coffee break

Student mobility 

Lunch

Closing session

Cultural activity/visit (t.b.d.)

INCP2 Kick-Off Seminar, New Delhi

One hour from Brazil

Welcome 

INCP2 Portfolio 2024-2027

INCP2 budget and reporting for the Norwegian institutions 

Tips from an experienced INCP project coordinator  

Short break

“Team Norway India” - support to India-Norway higher education and research cooperation

Responsible International Academic Cooperation – guidelines  

Online Start-up Meeting for the Norwegian INCP2-2024 institutions

Welcoming remarks

UTFORSK 2024 Portifolio. Expected results and effects

Budget and reporting

Tips for smooth project implementation, Thomas Gjesteland (UiA)

Responsible International Academic Cooperation – guidelines 

Q&A 

Digital Kick-off seminar for UTFORSK 2024

Applicants’ meeting – Capacity Building in Higher Education

Artistic Research Autumn Forum 2025

Artistic Research Spring Forum 2025

Welcome

Global shifts in learning – navigating the rise of micro-credentials in OECD countries

Micro-credentials in higher education: what, why and for whom?

Pause

Towards national guidelines for micro-credentials – challenges and opportunities

Micro-credentials in norwegian and european higher education – future possibilities

Micro-credentials - with a potential strengthening lifelong learning  Kompetenspasset

Conclusions and evaluation

Læring i nord 2024 – Micro-credentials: The Future of Skills Recognition?

Accredited Norwegian higher education institutions or institutions with accredited higher education programmes.

Indian public universities approved under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act (1956) and eligible for development funds, as well as Institutions of National Importance (INIs), including IITs and IIMs.

Other partners may be included as network-partners, such as higher education institutions, higher vocational education institutions, public or private enterprises, research institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or other organisations in Norway and India.

Details of projects for the 2024–2027 period and those implemented from 2014–2018 are available in HK-dirs project database. 

INCP2 aims to establish partnerships to foster internationalization and improve the quality of higher education. It focuses on academic collaboration, mobility, and close connections to industry, business, and work life in both India and Norway. The program complements and builds upon existing research collaborations between India and Norway.

INCP2

The program aims to enhance cooperation on both sides and encourages participation in other international initiatives like UTFORSK, INTPART, and Erasmus+ in Norway and Europe, as well as Indian and global funding schemes.

The program promotes academic collaboration in fields of mutual interest, including:

Health, including global/public health, biotechnology, and medical sciences

Interdisciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged.

Supported projects must have a long-term perspective and focus on research and institutional collaboration strategies. They should also promote capacity building and the exchange of best practices between India and Norway.

The program is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Norway. It is jointly funded by the Indian Ministry of Education and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Administration is manged by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India and HK-dir in Norway.

Scholarship recipients must be recruited through institutional collaboration between Norwegian higher education institutions and the recipient's home institution.

The target group for NORSTIP scholarships includes employees and students at Norwegian higher education institutions' partner institutions in selected partner countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, aged 20–30 years, without a previous master's degree. Scholarship recipients must be citizens and residents of a selected partner country. Scholarship recipients must be recruited through institutional collaboration between Norwegian higher education institutions and the recipient's home institution.

Applications from individual students are not possible under the scheme.

The purpose of NORSTIP is to contribute to economic development and welfare in selected partner countries. Through student mobility to Norwegian higher education institutions, the scheme aims to educate qualified candidates for the workforce in the students' home countries and to strengthen knowledge in subject areas needed by the partner countries.

A key element of NORSTIP is the expectation that students will return to their home countries after completing their education in Norway.

Approved NORSTIP partner countries for the H2024-H2025 admission

NORSTIP complements other Norwegian programs for academic cooperation with the Global South, such as 

 and aims to strengthen collaborations, recruit for future research, and facilitate more strategic partnerships.

The Norwegian host institutions are responsible for defining which accredited English-taught master's programs at their institution that are relevant for the scholarship scheme within the following thematic priorities: 

NORSTIP

In autumn 2023, the government announced the establishment of a scholarship scheme for students from countries outside the EEA and Switzerland, financed through the development aid budget. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has defined the framework for the scheme, and the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) is managing it.

In spring 2024, 18 Norwegian institutions received funding from HK-dir to admit 216 NORSTIP students for the 2024 and 2025 academic years. The first 56 students arrived in Norway in autumn 2024, and approximately 160 new students are expected to be awarded NORSTIP scholarships for studies starting in autumn 2025.

When the scheme is fully operational, there will be approximately 200 NORSTIP students at Norwegian higher education institutions at any given time. It has not yet been decided whether NORSTIP will receive funding to admit new students in 2026 and 2027. HK-dir will inform the institutions as soon as a decision is made.

Candidates cannot apply for participation in the StAR programme or nominate themselves. All candidates must be nominated by one of the designated institutions, embassies, universities and human rights organisations.

Candidates must have valid residency (temporary or permanent) in a country on 

Universities and other higher education institutions are often seen to contribute to processes directed towards a just societal organization, and to prompt students to engage in political activism or other forms of advocacy for change. In many cases, however, such student activists are at considerable risk of various adverse reactions to their activism, such as denial of further education, arrests, harassment, and other attempts to silence their voices.

The overall objective of the Students at Risk-programme is to identify students who due to their human rights’ activism, are «at risk»of beingformally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their home country, and to provide these students with an opportunity to complete their education in Norway and strengthening them as change agents. This is part of the Norwegian government’s support for human rights as established in the white paper Meld. St. 10 (2014-15) «

Opportunities for All: Human Rights in Norway’s Foreign Policy and Development Cooperation

» and the white paper Meld. St. 24 (2016-17) «

Students at Risk (StAR)

«Students at Risk» is a programme established on basis of an initiative by the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) and the National Union of Students in Norway (NSO). Students at Risk has been running since 2013 and has awarded scholarships and study places to more than 100 students in total.

Candidates must be nominated by one of the designated institutions, embassies, universities and human rights organisations and cannot apply directly to the programme.

The candidates nominated to the programme must be actively involved in activism aimed at improving the conditions for one or more human rights in a country on the the

, at a level deemed to entail personal risk (e.g. of physical violence, arrest, denial of civil rights, etc.). The candidates must have valid residency (temporary or permanent) in a country on the DAC List of ODA Recipients, at a level deemed to entail personal risk (e.g. of physical violence, arrest, denial of civil rights, etc.). The candidates must have valid residency (temporary or permanent) in a country on the DAC List of ODA Recipients.

Candidates must in addition qualify for admission to higher education in Norway to be considered eligible to receive the scholarship. HK-dir will assess the academic and linguistic qualification of the nominated candidates.

Candidates that are accepted under the programme will be enrolled in Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programmes at Norwegian Higher Education Institutions participating in the programme. The students will receive a scholarship from HK-dir during their stay in Norway. Upon completion of their studies, students will be expected to return to their home countries.

Read about StAR on regjeringen.no (in Norwegian)

The programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the MFA) and is administrated by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).

All public and private Icelandic and Norwegian higher education institutions and research organisations can apply and be partners. Individuals can not apply.

Arctic Research and Studies shall encourage cooperation between higher education institutions and research organisations in Norway and Iceland in the field of Arctic science.

The programme is open to all subject areas as long as the applicant can demonstrate a clear Arctic relevance.

Arctic Research and Studies

Arctic Research and Studies is based on a Memorandum of Understanding between Iceland and Norway about cooperation in the field of Arctic scientific research. The Icelandic and Norwegian Ministries of Foreign Affairs finance the Arctic Research and Studies programme.

Preparatory support grants are provided for the initiation of joint project applications to international competitive funds. Smaller travel grants for Arctic-related events and study visits in Norway and Iceland may be provided upon advertisement.

The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís) has the main responsibility for the administration of the Arctic Research and Studies Programme. The contact person for the programme at Rannís is 

Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) takes part in the application assessment process and is responsible for information and guidance to Norwegian applicants.

The Arctic Research and Studies Joint Programme Committee consists of representatives of the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme committee monitors and controls the implementation and development of the Arctic Research and Studies programme.

Accredited universities, specialised universities or university colleges in Norway.

The Centres for Excellence in Education scheme shall:

stimulate universities and university colleges to establish and

develop academic communities that offer excellent education,

contribute to knowledge-based analysis and development of

teaching and learning, that underpins quality enhancement and

innovation capable of making significant impact,

contribute to sector-wide development and dissemination of

knowledge and excellent educational practices,

stimulate stronger interaction between higher education and

Academic communities that are awarded centre status must therefore:

develop innovative ways of working with R&D-based education,

encourage student engagement and ownership of learning,

develop and disseminate knowledge and practices about the design of teaching and learning environments that are conducive to learning,

relate to international developments in higher education and in the relevant field of education.

Norwegian Centres for Excellence in Education (SFU)

The scheme is a long-term effort to stimulate the development of education and innovative approaches to learning in higher education at bachelor’s and master’s degree level.

Centres for Excellence in Education are leading academic communities in developing quality in higher education. The awarded centres must be in the forefront of national and international developments in education. Centres are expected to instigate change by disseminating knowledge and practices both within and outside their host institutions.

contribute to the development of excellent quality in Norwegian higher education

make visible that teaching and research are equal tasks for universities, scientific colleges and universities of applied sciences

There are today 13 active centres for excellence in education:

2022 >

2019 >

2016 – 2021

2016 - 2026

2013 - 2023

2011 - 2021

Centres for excellence in education

The Centres for Excellence in Education is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The scheme was established in 2010 and is administred by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

The applicant must be an accredited Norwegian higher education institution

The application must include at least one partner that is an accredited higher education institution in one of the NORPART partner countries

NORPART partner countries

The purpose of NORPART is to contribute towards enhancing the quality of higher education in Norway and selected partner countries, through academic cooperation and mutual student mobility.

Enhanced quality of higher education in Norway and in the partner countries

Qualified candidates with knowledge and skills relevant for the employment market, who can contribute to solving local and global challenges.

To reach overall purpose and desired impact of the NORPART, the programme shall fulfil four objectives:

Strengthened partnerships for education and research between partner countries and Norway.

Increased quality and internationalisation of academic programmes at participating institutions.

Increased mobility of students from the partner countries to Norway, including mobility in connection with work placements.

Increased mobility of students from Norway to partner countries including mobility in connection with work placements.

Higher education institutions in Norway and the partner countries.

Master’s and PhD students in Norway and in the partner countries.

 for more information on the background and framework of the programme.

NORPART

NORPART is a flexible policy instrument for institutional collaboration with a long-term perspective. The overall goal of the program is to enhance the quality of Norwegian higher education and partner institutions in the Global South through academic cooperation and student mobility.

NORPART was established in 2016 and has been developed based on experiences from other schemes supporting institutional collaboration and mobility in higher education.

The Norwegian government has proposed to end support for the NORPART-programme in the 2025 National Budget. This means that only around seven projects will receive funding in the planned allocation in October, based on the NOK 35 million that was allocated to the programme for 2024.


Ongoing projects will receive funding in accordance with their agreements.

Results of the call for applications 2024

The deadline for the call for proposals for 2024 was 3. June. By the deadline, 191 applications were received. The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills allocates approximately 35 million NOK to 7 projects.


See the file below for information about the awarded projects.

NORPART 2024 allocation - Title, applicant and total score

The NORPART programme is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is administered by The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).

The overall aim of the INTPART program is to develop more world-leading academic environments in Norway.

The INTPART program has the following secondary goals:

Long-term international partnerships that enhance the quality of higher education and research in Norway.

Strong links between higher education and research within the frameworks of the partnerships.

Cooperation with the business and public sectors to enhance quality and relevance within the frameworks of the partnerships, where relevant.

Examples of activities that are eligible for funding:

Additional expenses relating to short-term or long-term reciprocal mobility stays by students, researchers, managers and administrative staff;

Development and implementation of workshops, seminars and conferences for the purpose of strengthening international cooperation;

Development and implementation of intensive courses, field courses, summer schools etc.;

Cooperation on curriculum development and development of joint courses, educational programmes and/or degree programmes;

Joint researcher schools and international educational programmes based on research collaboration and institutionalised within the framework of the partnerships;

Planning and development of research cooperation;

Guest lectures and joint teaching and supervision of students and doctoral candidates;

Cooperation with the business and public sectors;

Development of digital forms of collaboration

Other activities that encompass international research and educational cooperation.

Norwegian universities, university colleges and research institutes may apply for funding for partnerships with Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, China, South Africa, South Korea and the United States.

Only approved Norwegian research organisations may apply for funding.See the Research Council’s definition and list of 

Requirements relating to the Project Owner

The organisation listed as the Project Owner in the application form must have approved your submission of the grant application. Applications related to Norwegian Innovation Clusters must be approved by the cluster's board of directors.

The Project Owner must have degree-conferring programmes at master's and/or PhD level, or have documented collaboration with a Norwegian research organisation with such programmes for the INTPART project. General collaboration agreements are not approved.

At the time of the application deadline, the Project Owner must be a host institution or formal partner in peer-reviewed projects with ongoing funding through one of the following schemes:

Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME);

Centres of Excellence in Higher Education (SFU);

Centres for Research-based Innovation (SFI);

Centres for Clinical Treatment Research scheme (FKB); 

The Norwegian Artistic Research Programme (NARP); 

Research Centres for Petroleum Activities (PETROSENTER);

Collaborative and Knowledge-building Project, funded by the Research Council;

Researcher project, funded by the Research Council;

Researcher projects and centre schemes funded by NordForsk or the Nordic Council of Ministers;

Researcher projects funded by the EU Framework Programme;

Research projects funded by research programmes under the EEA and Norway Grants

Information about the project being funded, including the scheme it is funded under, project number and other project identification, must be entered in its own template.

Maximum number of applications per research organisation

The Project Owner may submit a maximum number of grant applications based on the size of the institution:

more than 1,500 R&D personnel: 10 applications;

500–1,500 R&D personnel: 5 applications;

fewer than 100 R&D personnel: 2 applications.

Exceptions to the number restriction: Formalised institutional cooperation that has lasted more than three years, and where several Norwegian higher education institutions constitute a consortium that cooperates with one or more outstanding equivalent institutions in the priority countries, will be exempt from the number restriction

The Project Owner must submit a list of the applications approved by the institution. The list must be submitted regardless of how many applications within the approved framework the institution chooses to submit. We will not process applications that are not listed in such a list. Send the list by e-mail to

Requirements relating to the project manager

The project manager should have experience with collaborative projects, nationally and internationally. This also applies to responsible persons at the partner organisations.

Key personnel in the INTPART project must refer to significant roles in the ongoing project on which the INTPART grant is based. It will usually mean being a project manager, work package manager, team leader or the like. Otherwise, see separate form for this. 

The project manager must be employed by the Project Owner.

The INTPART project shall have a partner who is a university, university college or other research institution in the partner country, with a named local contact person.

Other types of organisations nationally and in partner countries, including Norwegian Innovation Clusters, companies, and other enterprises, may be partners in INTPART. Such partners cannot be supported directly over the INTPART project, but may be subcontractors. 

See The Research Council of Norways website for more information about subcontractors.

INTPART

The programme will create a framework for expanding cooperation between research groups considered to be at the international forefront today or that are believed to have the potential to become world leaders in their fields in the future.

The programme will help to increase the extent and enhance the quality and relevance of scientific cooperation with selected countries, in particular byestablishing strong ties between higher education and research cooperation. Cooperation with the business and public sectors is encouraged when relevant.

The INTPART scheme was established as a follow-up to the Long-Term Plan for Research and Higher Education and efforts to develop more world-leading academic environments in Norway. The scheme is alsodirectly related to the follow up the Panorama Strategy – Strategy for cooperation on research and higher education with Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and the USA (2021–2027).

Cooperation with Russian partners are for the time-being not supported.

Following the decision made by the Portfolio Board for the Research System in the Research Council on 17 September 2025, 20 projects have been awarded NOK 99,619,000. See the list below for an overview of the awarded projects and the list of experts.

Higher education and research

Guidelines and tools for responsible international knowledge cooperation

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