Strategic plan for UiT The Arctic University of Norway 2014-2022

Core values

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment will be hallmarks of the relationship between employees, between employees and students and between UiT and its partners.

Areas of priority

UiT will help promote economic, cultural and social development in the north through building knowledge and human capital.

UiT will be at the international forefront in the following areas of knowledge:

Energy, climate, society and environment  

Understanding what happens in the Arctic is key to understanding global climate change.

UiT will develop cutting-edge knowledge on:

• Causes and effects of changes in climate and environment
• Conventional and renewable energy production
•  Social, economic and legal adaptations to changes in climate and environment
•  Opportunities and challenges for indigenous people due to climate change

Technology 

In a region characterized by long distances and a challenging climate, new technological solutions are needed to deliver welfare to the people living here.

UiT will develop cutting-edge knowledge on:

• Technological solutions that promote broad and inclusive social development and a diverse business development in the north
• Technology that solves challenges related to health, the external environment and safety
• Digital competence in education

Health, welfare and quality of life

Attractive communities in the north depend on good schools, health services and other services that promote people’s quality of life.

UiT will develop cutting-edge knowledge on:

• Public health, preventing and curing disease and improving living conditions for all age groups
• Childhood and learning
• Technological, legal and other societal solutions for the welfare
  society
• Sami language, culture and quality of life
• Art and culture on their own and as elements in social and business development

Community development and democratisation

Society development and democratization relies on inclusion of the entire population through education, work, involvement and a feeling of belonging. UiT will demonstrate its global engagement.

UiT will develop cutting-edge knowledge on:

• The economic, legal, social, health-related and technological foundation for a functional welfare state.
• Societal and cultural changes stemming from globalization and from techno­logical, demographic, social, legal and economic development.
• The basis for collaboration and potential conflicts in the High North.
• How research, outreach and art build culture and identity.
• Gender and diversity in the context of social development. 

Sustainable use of resources

Societal and business development in the north depends upon future-oriented sustainable management of natural resources. UiT will develop cutting-edge knowledge on:

• The interaction between traditional and new industries pertaining
  to economics, culture and international law
• Management of the marine resources, including fisheries, aquaculture and marine biotechnology
• Development of nature-based tourism
• Exploitation of extractable resources

 General strategies

Engaging and relevant programmes of study

UiT will offer research-based education of the highest international quality standards. The university will offer a broad and diverse programme portfolio.

1. UiT will develop and implement new educational tools and student active learning methods.
2. UiT will increase the use of technol­ogies and implement the use of digital examination forms in all relevant programmes of study.
3. 3.       UiT will facilitate flexible and web-based teaching methods.
4. UiT will be a national leader in teacher education.
5. UiT will develop its programme port­folio and education quality in dialogue with students and external partners.
6. UiT will increase the students’ knowledge about Sami culture, history, industry and society.
7. All pro­grammes of study will offer at least two quality-assured international exchange options.
8. UiT will include innovation and entrepreneurship in all programmes of study.
9. In cooperation with UNIS, UiT will increase its activities in Svalbard.

UiT will provide its students with a good and creative learning environment, with infrastructure that makes the university an attractive educational institution.

1. UiT will increase the recruitment of new students on regionally, nationally and internationally, and will provide student housing at an adequate level.
2. UiT will be a national leader in student throughput, have a good and inclusive learning and study environment and facilitate a well-functioning student democracy.
3. UiT will facilitate close contact between students and the business and industry community.
4. UiT will have good arenas for alumni to meet.

Academic freedom and credibility – research and artistic and professional development

UiT will be a research-driven university with researchers and research groups that are innovative and at the international research frontier in their fields.

1. UiT will strengthen the research activities within the strategy’s themat­ic areas of priority and research groups that are internationally leading - irrespective of theme.
2. UiT will increase its external funding.
3. UiT will create robust research groups and prioritize collaboration with national and international partners that contribute to improving UiT’s research quality.
4. UiT will be a national leader in practice-oriented professional research.
5. UiT will have PhD programmes that are internationally competitive and of high quality.
6. UiT will have research infrastructure of national interest that particularly supports the thematic areas of priority and the areas of research in which UiT is an international leader.
7. UiT will be in the national forefront in Open Science and our research data and publications will be openly available when possible.

Creativity and commitment – innovation and dissemination

UiT will strengthen its position and its reputa­tion through good communication, dissemi­nation of its work and a clear profile. UiT will be a driving force for increased innovation and business development in the High North.

1. UiT will stimulate the development of commercially viable ideas and build robust and innovative research envi­ronments.
2. UiT will contribute to regional development.
3. UiT will cooperate with NORUT to further the innovation from, and use of, UiT’s research.
4. UiT will contribute to the development of a knowledge-based business and industrial sector and actively share its knowledge.
5. UiT will be recognized by a culture for active dissemination through open channels for publishing, as well as through exhibitions, journals and the media.
6. UiT will contribute to research-based knowledge that will be the basis for public debate.

Closeness and commitment – work environment and organisation

UiT will have a good working environment and an efficient, robust and flexible organisation that contributes to UiT achieving its goals.

1. UiT will have an inclusive work envi­ronment with equal opportunities in which each employee receives good professional and collegial support.
2. UiT will have a life phase-oriented human resources policy.
3. UiT will have good practices for com­petence and career development for its academic staff, putting equal emphasis on education and research duties.
4. UiT will be an attractive employer offering competitive working conditions and a recruitment policy that emphasises quality.
5. UiT will facilitate increased international mobility.
6. UiT will ensure the efficiency and quality of its support services through continuous improvement processes with a broad level of involvement.
7. UiT will have the competence and capacity to realize and maintain buildings that are functional, space efficient and have good technical and IT solutions.
8. UiT will have a culture for outstanding management and employee respon­sibility, and promote cooperation throughout the organisation.
9. UiT will work to achieve sustainable development in all aspects of the organisation.

UiT bases its priorities on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.