Kristiania's International Collaboration and Agreements

Responsible: Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation; Published: 20.06.2025 Last updated: 20.06.2025

1. Why is international collaboration important?

In a world marked by significant changes with global and regional societal challenges, we must have the necessary competence and knowledge to adapt, develop solutions, and manage transitions. We must collaborate with the most suitable partners to participate in knowledge and competence development and to apply it at home.

International collaboration with reputable academic partners is essential to ensure high quality in research and education. At Kristiania, internationalisation is emphasised in academic appointments and promotions, and should be discussed in performance reviews.

2. Kristiania's priority collaboration countries

At Kristiania, the principle of academic freedom applies, and academic staff can choose whom they wish to collaborate with. Kristiania must also adhere to regulations regarding sanctions and responsible international collaboration to ensure the safety of individual staff, the institution, and national interests.

At the institutional level, Kristiania prioritises collaboration with the following countries and regions:

Europe:

The Erasmus+ programme promotes education and training, particularly within Europe. The programme offers funding for mobility and collaborative projects, within higher education (including vocational schools) and lifelong learning.
Horizon Europe
EEA Grants

Nordic Region:

Nordplus is the largest education programme of the Nordic Council of Ministers, supporting both short and long-term mobilities. Nordplus is organised into thematic networks.
Kristiania is part of the following Nordplus networks:
- Design network CIRRUS
- Music network Nordplusmusic
- Technology and innovation network EkoTek Nord. Kristiania hosts the secretariat for EkoTek Nord until 2027.

Outside Europe:

The government's Panorama Strategy (2021-2027) identifies selected countries with the aim of further developing collaboration. This includes Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, China, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA. Calls for funding for research and educational collaboration often include these Panorama countries. Learn about the partner institutions Kristiania has in these countries on the website of Kristiania's international partners.

Russian institutions are currently subject to sanctions.

3. What types of international collaboration does Kristiania participate in?

International Networks and Memberships

Here is an overview of many of the international networks Kristiania is a member of:

Institutional Collaboration

Kristiania's collaboration agreements at the institutional level provide frameworks for the mobility of students and staff or future intentions for education, research, and innovation collaboration.

Kristiania prioritises two-way collaboration. When possibly, Kristiania prefers to base this on the wishes of academic staff and their professional networks within research and education.

A) Different Types of Exchange Agreements

Two-way Exchange Agreements

These offer several benefits for both the student and Kristiania. The student continues to pay tuition fees to Kristiania, which are usually lower here. Exchange within the Erasmus and

Nordplus programmes also provides opportunities for scholarships. The agreements typically accommodate 3-5 exchange students, and often staff as well. Practically all staff exchanges go to institutions with which Kristiania has a two-way agreement.

Kristiania also has two-way agreements with institutions outside Europe, but these are usually not linked to any scholarship scheme.

Two-way exchange means that Kristiania also receives incoming exchange students from partner institutions.

One-way Collaboration Agreements (Study Abroad)

Here, the student pays tuition fees to the partner institution abroad during the exchange semester. This tuition fee is usually significantly higher. There are no scholarship schemes associated with such agreements. Additionally, there is no provision for staff exchange or collaboration at the project level.

Exchange students on two-way agreements receive a 50% discount on replacement courses at Kristiania, while exchange students on one-way collaboration agreements do not receive a discount on replacement courses.

Overview of Exchange Agreements at Kristiania

B) Project-Based Collaboration

Kristiania's academic staff collaborate internationally on education, research, events/conferences, innovations, and more. When a project receives funding, a project-based collaboration agreement is established between the institutions.

4. How does Kristiania establish new institutional collaboration agreements?

How does Kristiania choose collaboration partners?

Kristiania has developed checklists to ensure that exchange agreements are relevant, attractive, and at the right level, and that Schools and academic staff are involved. There is also a separate checklist that academic staff can use when considering a new partner themselves.

SUBMIT a proposal for a new partner institution

We encourage all academic staff with contacts at a potential partner, e.g., through a research collaboration, to inform the International Team by using the link above.

Signature Hierarchy

All contracts related to mobility and international collaboration must be signed by the Vice-Rector for Research and Artistic Development. This applies to agreements/contracts that legally and/or financially bind the institution.

The Vice-Rector for Research and Artistic Development is also Kristiania's Legal Representative in the Erasmus programme.

Non-binding agreements related to internationalisation are usually signed by the Department of Research Administration and Internationalisation.

If you have questions, please contact via email: international@kristiania.no