Quality in Education
Quality should be a fundamental principle for all NMBU programmes of study. Quality in education revolves around ensuring that our students achieve the learning outcomes in their programmes of study and courses. Our teaching is research-based, and all our programmes of study should align with the University’s strategy and philosophy of learning. We particularly aim to help students develop their ability to learn throughout their lives and equip them with knowledge and competence to contribute to solutions to sustainability challenges.
How We Work with Quality in Education
Our quality work related to education involves various processes and stakeholders. The most significant quality work occurs in conjucntion with teaching at the faculty level. Below, you will find several examples of how we work with quality in education at NMBU.
SITRAP - Centre for Excellence in Education
SITRAP is a resource centre for the development of teaching metholodology in spatial planning. The aim is better teaching and learning across various professions such as landscape architecture, town and regional planning and property development. Centre of Excellence in Education funding is allocated over 5 years (2023 -2027) with a total framework of approximately NOK 35 million. The funds will be used on various sub-projects which are described under the centre's three strategic areas.
Cultivating a Quality Culture
We systematically support incentives for quality work to foster a positive quality culture. Additionally, we share excellent teaching practices at NMBU during our annual learning festival.
Some of our incentives include pedagogical merit for teachers, support for innovative teaching, the award for the best assignment, the education award, the study environment award and the students' award for the semester's best teacher.
System for Quality Assurance of Education
Our systematic quality work is described in our quality system. This system aims to ensure and enhance the quality of the education we offer.
Our learning philosophy is designed to promote outstanding teaching and learning.
The Learning Centre is our support function for quality work. The Center assists academic environments in this and creates arenas for knowledge and experience sharing in pedagogy and the use of digital tools to support learning.
To develop our educational programmes and for our students to achieve the learning outcomes, we depend on our students being engaged and actively involved in their own learning. Student feedback is essential for our development work, whether coming through feedback processes, surveys or student democracy.
Students' role in quality development of educationSeveral of our programmes of study are internationally accredited. Accreditation involves both increased quality work within a programme of study and external quality assessment of the programme. It also provides opportunities for enhanced international collaboration and exchange with recognised institutions.
Our accredited study programmes include:
- Veterinary Medicine (EAEVE)
- Veterinary Nursing (ACOVENE)
- Master in Global Development Studies (IAC/EADI)
- Master in Landscape Architecture and Master in Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability (both IFLA Europe)
The NMBU School of Economics and Business is also undergoing an accreditation process (AACSBB).
Our graduates should be attractive to the labour market, and our educational programmes should be relevant to society, the labour market and long-term value creation. Cooperation with society and the working world is therefore crucial, and we have a separate policy for collaboration with business and industry, and the public sector. Within education, this collaboration takes place, among other things, through our Council for Cooperation with Working Life, participation of external members in programme councils, use of external experts in teaching, practice placements/internships for students, semester and thesis projects and student innovation.
We facilitate opportunities for our students to acquire innovation competence within their field of study during their studies. In addition to teaching and dedicated courses on innovation and entrepreneurship, there are several student-driven centres and platforms that focus on this on campus.