STRATEGY 2018–2025

THE FACULTY OF
HUMANITIESNorwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU
Approved by the Faculty Board 19 April 2018

Guide to readers
For each area of the strategy, we describe the preferred state
for the Faculty of Humanities at the end of the strategy period in
2025. In addition, each area has development goals of particularimportance for the Faculty during the strategy period.
The strategy and the development goals of the Faculty of Humanities
will help to realize the ambitions of NTNU’s strategy “Knowledge for abetter world” as summarized in the main objectives for NTNU in 2025.

Photo cover: Lena Knutli
Graphic design and production: NTNU Grafisk senter

STRATEGY 2018–2025

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Vision, Values, Social Mission................................................ 4
Our Vision................................................................................... 6
Our Values.................................................................................. 7
Our Social Mission..................................................................... 8Core Tasks............................................................................10
Education and Learning Environment......................................12
Research...................................................................................14
Artistic Activities.......................................................................16
Innovation..................................................................................18
Dissemination and Outreach ...................................................20

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Cross-cutting Priority Areas.................................................22
Internationalization...................................................................24
Interdisciplinary Collaboration.................................................25
Organization and Resources.....................................................27

VISION
VALUES
SOCIAL MISSIONSTRATEGY 2018–2025

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OUR VISION:KNOWLEDGE FOR
A BETTER WORLD
The vision of the Faculty of Humanities is “Knowledge fora Better World”. We work to achieve this by developing
knowledge about humanity and culture for a changing world.
To solve the challenges that the world is facing and to createa sustainable society, we need knowledge about how culture
and history shape our understanding and our choices. Suchinsight is vital in a society characterized by constant change.
Our particular strength lies in understanding the relationships
between humans, culture, society, nature and technology.

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STRATEGY 2018–2025

OUR VALUESNTNU’s values – to be creative, critical, constructive and respectful – serve as a
guide for staff and students at the Faculty of Humanities.

CREATIVE

The principle of academic freedom forms the basis for the academic
activities at the Faculty of Humanities. Academic freedom is aprerequisite for good research, critical public debate and trust in
research-based knowledge. On this basis, we take on challenging
questions and tasks, and seek new solutions with a backgroundin our academic breadth. We value and encourage innovative
teaching, research, artistic activities, dissemination and outreach.

CRITICAL

Our disciplines are independent voices that critically challengeestablished ideas in society. Criticism of sources and the capacity
for reflection based on values are especially important at a time
when information is shared on an enormous scale and at highspeed, with ethical boundaries under constant challenge.

CONSTRUCTIVE

We are solution-oriented and develop new knowledge to promote asustainable society. We achieve this across disciplines and professions,and in dialogue and cooperation with relevant actors in society.

RESPECTFULNTNU’s values create a commitment both internally and in our
activities directed at the outside world. Employees and students
have a responsibility to contribute to a work and study environment
characterized by respect and consideration. The Faculty of Humanities
facilitates personal growth and development of skills. We contributeto diversity and gender equality in society and in our own activities.
We promote an inclusive work and learning environment.

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Photo: Ole Ekker

OUR SOCIAL MISSIONSTRATEGY 2018–2025

Our disciplines represent fundamental values and knowledge in society:
They provide insight into human phenomena such as thinking, culture,
language, religion, art, ethics and politics. In addition to its intrinsic value,
this knowledge helps to place phenomena and events in a broader context.
Research at the Faculty makes diagnoses of society and elaborates on the
major issues regarding society’s direction, the value of life, and the essenceof being human. The Faculty therefore has a particular responsibility to
educate students with skills in critical reflection based on values andan understanding of the significance of history for our lives. These arenecessary pillars in a democracy and for the development of society.
Our graduates fill a wide range of roles in society in both the private and the
public sector, particularly in those areas where humanistic skills are especiallyin demand: education, public administration, arts and culture, and the media.
The Faculty of Humanities nurtures, disseminates and renews
artistic and practical-aesthetic expertise in education, research andexperimental development at NTNU, and in society as a whole.
Our disciplines are an important part of NTNU as a multidisciplinary university
and for realizing the vision of knowledge for a better world. The disciplines
provide a broad understanding of the cultural dimensions in societal
development and offer insight into the management of our cultural heritage.
The academic environments contribute the knowledge needed to solve society’s
major challenges and to realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
We will fulfil our social mission in these ways:- we will develop the best environments in education, research and thearts, honing their strengths and paving the way for all our departments
to have academic environments at a high international level in 2025
- more of the Faculty’s academic communities will participate
actively and contribute to policy both for NTNU’s interdisciplinaryand strategic thematic areas, and for research programmes
in the Research Council of Norway and the EU- we will participate actively in public debate and we will help to maintain anddevelop the democratic principles and values on which our society is based

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CORE TASKSEDUCATION AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTRESEARCH
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIESINNOVATIONDISSEMINATION AND OUTREACHSTRATEGY 2018–2025

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Photo: Lena Knutli

EDUCATION AND LEARNINGENVIRONMENTSTRATEGY 2018–2025

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Offer innovative and exploratory
teaching, provided by educators who
are key contributors in NTNU’s workon learning and education quality
Clearly present the profile of our study
programmes, coordinate our portfolio ofprogrammes and work together on study
programmes where this is relevant
Strengthen our five-year master’s programmesin teacher education (lektorutdanning), and work
together with teacher education for primary andlower secondary school teachers on disciplinebased contributions to these programmes

The education offered at the Faculty of
Humanities is research-based and of a highstandard, supported by quality assurance at
all levels. The academic portfolio is based onsolid disciplines and highlights the Faculty’s
close cooperation with the working world andsociety. Students are highly satisfied with ourprogrammes of study and dropout rates are low.
Our graduates are sought after in the workplace.
The Faculty offers the Examen Philosophicum to
all NTNU students. We provide continuing andfurther education that is sought after by boththe public sector and the business community.
The Faculty is aware that the groups for whom
our programmes are intended have different
needs, and our academic portfolio therefore
includes part-time study and experience-based
education in addition to full-time study.
The Faculty has innovative learning
environments with varied and customized
teaching and learning methods, and we believethat the best learning process takes placewhen students experience close ties with
their academic community. New technology
and digitalization play an important rolein teaching, and they are used by expert
educators to provide students with the best
possible foundation for gaining knowledge anddeveloping skills. Students have an independent
responsibility for their own learning.
Our teaching staff carry out their social
mission with dedication and engagement,
and they continuously develop their expertisein their field. They work in close cooperation
with colleagues from other academic groups
at NTNU, in Norway and internationally.

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Photo: Lena Knutli

RESEARCH

STRATEGY 2018–2025

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Develop more research groups that arenationally and internationally outstanding
Develop Norway’s best environment
for challenge-driven and actionoriented research in the humanities

Our research poses new questions andgenerates knowledge that addresses key
societal challenges locally, nationallyand internationally. The Faculty has
strong research groups and individual
researchers with international networks.
Basic research, interdisciplinary research
and action-oriented research strengthen
each other, and form the basis for teaching
and for cooperation with external parties,
society, business and the working world.
All staff members in doctoral positions
publish articles and books of high quality
in academically relevant channels.
Our research is read and cited.
The Faculty offers attractive doctoral
education at international level,
where candidates complete theirstudies within the nominal period.
Our scope for academic initiative is extended
through external funding, which is also
an indicator of quality in research. Most
academic employees lead or participate
actively in externally funded research
projects. Master’s degree students
are also involved in such projects.

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Photo: Lena Knutli

ARTISTIC ACTIVITIESSTRATEGY 2018–2025

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Develop and showcase art of highquality with international relevanceFurther develop the interaction between art,
the humanities, technology and science
Develop our PhD education in art

The artistic disciplines are based on aesthetic
reflection and relevant research at a highlevel. The Faculty of Humanities develops
art both as a unique and independent formof interaction and as a powerful force inhuman life and society. We develop andstudy the relationship between art andsociety, and further develop the interaction
between art, technology and science.
The Faculty places art in an interdisciplinary,societal and international context. In addition,
it develops the critical and constructiverole of art and the artistic disciplines forthe individual, the public and schools.
The extent of practice, performanceand publication of artistic work inrecognized arenas is increasing,with a growing proportion of art ofproven international quality.

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Photo: synlig.no

INNOVATION

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STRATEGY 2018–2025

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Include social and cultural entrepreneurshipand innovation in our programmes of study
and our research where it is relevant
Strengthen our cooperation with thebusiness community, the cultural sector
and public-sector organizations

Humanistic innovation contributes topositive changes and provides benefits
to the economy, society, culture, public
services, well-being, environment andquality of life outside the academic world.
The education, research and artistic
activities at our Faculty give us a solid
basis for meeting societal challenges.
Interdisciplinarity is a prerequisite forsuccess. Our knowledge about humanity,
its values and its ways of thinking forms thefoundation for our approach to innovation.

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Photo: Thor Nielsen

DISSEMINATION AND OUTREACH

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STRATEGY 2018–2025

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Ensure that research and research
results benefit society throughtargeted dissemination and outreachthrough open access and digitalchannels in the public domain
Be a clear policy contributor in publicdebate and societal development
Increase the visibility of the quality
and relevance of the educationthat the Faculty offers

Dissemination and outreach are coretasks for the university. At the Faculty of
Humanities, knowledge is communicatedthrough education, disseminationof research results to the public,
performance and presentation of works,
participation in development and innovation
processes, participation in councils
and committees, and contributions topolitical decision-making processes.
The results of our research and ourdevelopment work are communicatedboth among peers and to the public, andthe scope of scientific and user-centred
dissemination is increasing. Results of
our academic activities are disseminatedin ways that provide insight and spark
debate, and a range of our experts convey
the perspectives of the humanities innational boards, councils and committees.
Our PhD candidates, postdocs and new
employees in academic positions haveskills in research dissemination.

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CROSS-CUTTINGPRIORITY AREAS

INTERNATIONALIZATIONINTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONORGANIZATION AND RESOURCESSTRATEGY 2018–2025

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INTERNATIONALIZATIONThe Faculty is part of the global knowledge society andgives priority to participation in international arenas andinternational networks. International collaboration helps tostrengthen the quality of our research and education.
The Faculty paves the way for visits abroad for employees,
and for visiting scholars who wish to visit us.
Students are encouraged to participate in international
exchange programmes abroad during their studies, andall study programmes provide opportunities for this. The
Faculty also offers international programmes of study.
The Faculty will help to realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals inline with the expertise of our academic communities in the relevant areas.
The Faculty has a special responsibility for thedevelopment and preservation of Norwegian as alanguage for academic and scientific purposes.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Increase international mobility
Ensure that programmes of study reflect international
trends in their disciplines and in educational practice
Win international competitions inresearch, education and innovation.

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STRATEGY 2018–2025

INTERDISCIPLINARYCOLLABORATION
The major societal challenges that we face requireinterdisciplinary approaches. Our expertise in the humanities
makes our academic environments natural participants ininterdisciplinary projects both at NTNU and nationally.
Interdisciplinary coordination and cooperation requires solid disciplinary
knowledge. On this basis, the Faculty creates a platform for cooperation
both internally at the Faculty and at NTNU. Interdisciplinarity at
NTNU includes both research projects and study programmes. It
is based on cooperation and a culture of sharing across units.
We lead important interdisciplinary projects and contribute
our expertise in initiatives to solve major tasks in society andto follow up the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
NTNU’s focus on interdisciplinarity gives our Faculty aunique profile among faculties of humanities in Norway.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Launch and participate in local, regional,
national and international interdisciplinary
initiatives and action-oriented programmes
Contribute with the perspectives of thehumanities in educational activities at NTNU

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Photo: Åshild Berg-Tesdal

STRATEGY 2018–2025

ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCES
The Faculty’s most important resource is the people who work and study here.
The Faculty has a culture characterized by cooperation, collegial participationand open dialogue-based communication. We have a good working relationshipwith student government and the unions, and employees and students are
involved in decision-making processes.
The work environment at the Faculty promotes health and a culture ofinclusiveness, and we take customized initiatives to ensure ongoingdevelopment of the environment.
The Faculty has a management team that sets goals and makes strategic
choices. We have clear leadership of education and research in the departments.
There is a short distance between management and employees at all levels.
We focus on and take steps to achieve gender balance.
Employees are open to changes in priorities and organizational structure,and they take the initiative in academic and administrative contexts.
The Faculty has a competent and flexible administration that helps it achieve
its overall goals in education, research, dissemination, outreach and artistic
activities.
The Faculty has good and effective recruitment procedures and focuseson career development.
The Faculty has good governance that ensures adequate freedom of action
for strategic priorities and necessary renewal.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe Faculty of Humanities will:
Ensure that Faculty is an attractive workplace with academic
challenges in a safe work environment for staff and students
Ensure and require participation and transparency inprocesses with respect for the individual’s rights

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FROM VISIONTO REALITY

2018–2025
Through this strategy, the Faculty will follow up NTNU’s strategy
Knowledge for a Better World. We will give concrete form to thestrategy through short-term objectives, key priorities and plans thatare updated every year. In some areas of activity, we will decide on
our own action plans. Resources are allocated based on the Faculty’s
model for further distribution (VFM), and we will carry out an annual
assessment of the scope and allocation of strategic funds to be used torealize the strategy.
In addition to the Faculty’s strategy, long-term work is also being
carried out at the departmental level, where specific strategic andaction plans are developed in consultation with the staff.