University of Agder

Universitetet i Agder
Type	Public university
Established	2007 (1994, 1839)
Rector	Sunniva Whittaker
Total staff	2,202[1]
Students	14,215 (2021)[2]
Location	Kristiansand & Grimstad , Norway
Campus	Gimlemoen Grimstad
Website	uia.no

Panorama view of Gimlemoen.

Campus of Kristiansand Teacher Training College

Campus Gimlemoen, located in Kristiansand.

Campus Grimstad, main entrance

The University of Agder (Norwegian: Universitetet i Agder), formerly known as Agder College and Agder University College, is a public university with campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad, Norway. The institution was established as a university college (høgskole) in 1994 through the merger of the Agder University College and five other colleges, including a technical college and a nursing school, and was granted the status of a full university in 2007.

History

The idea of a university in the Agder region is not completely new. In his short period as ruler of the union of Denmark–Norway, Johann Friedrich Struensee planned on reforming the University of Copenhagen. He ordered Bishop Johann Ernst Gunnerus of Trondheim to develop more detailed plans. Gunnerus presented a proposal in 1771 in which he suggested establishing a new university in Norway, and placing it in Kristiansand.

The motives for suggesting Kristiansand as a university town have been debated. Regardless, the idea was soon discarded as planning began for the first Norwegian university. In 1811, a resolution was passed to establish Norway's first university in Christiania (Oslo).

Even without a university in the region, and as the need for better educated employees rose, several smaller colleges were established throughout the Agder region. The first, Christiansands Stiftsseminarium på Holt, later known as Kristiansand Teacher Training College, was founded at Holt, Aust-Agder in 1839, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Norway. It was followed by Arendal College of Nursing (1920), Agder Music Conservatory (1965), Agder Regional College of Technology (1967), Agder Regional College (1969) and Kristiansand College of Nursing (1976).^[3]

Agder University College was established by a merger in 1994, when the six public regional colleges in the Agder counties became one institution. The University College received full university accreditation and became the University of Agder on 1 September 2007.

Organisation and administration

UiA has a shared leadership. The rector, who becomes the head of the university board and bears responsibility for the academic programmes and activities, is elected by the faculty, staff, and students. The university director, by contrast, is the head of administration and is responsible for financial and administrative affairs.

Student culture

At campus Kristiansand, the heart of the university building is the axis that stretches from the "wandering hall" by the main entrance, to the canteen. The library, two cafés, a book store, the largest lecture halls and other facilities are located along this axis.

Every autumn, experienced students organizes events, stands, competitions and "social groups" to welcome the newly arrived students. Students also organizes several cultural, charitable and athletic associations. In addition to this, UiA offers student accommodation on campus as well as a gym, where students are offered membership on discounted prices. The facilities include a well-equipped gym, a crossfit room, a swimming pool, as well as several changing rooms equipped with saunas.

Virtually all athletic activity at campus Kristiansand is organized by Kristiansand Studentidrettslag (KSI), while the teams at campus Grimstad constitutes Grimstad Studentidrettslag (GSI). Membership is offered to students of UiA and other institutions of higher education in the area only. Sports offered at one or both of the campuses includes football, golf, handball, floorball, basketball, volleyball and multiple martial arts. The male student lacrosse team in Kristiansand is a notable exception, as it operates independently from KSI. Teams from KSI and GSI competes in local leagues as well as selected regional and/or national tournaments.

Students at UiA also organizes several orchestras and choirs, political and non-profit/charitable associations, as well as associations specific to the different programs. The pubs and concert venues "Østsia" (East side/wing) and "Bluebox" is located at campus Kristiansand and Grimstad, respectively. The students at UiA does not shy away from the general nightlife, however, as they frequent the pubs, bars and clubs in downtown Kristiansand and Grimstad.

In the summertime, students enjoy hanging out along Agder's scenic beaches, often equipped with volleyball courts. The "city beach" in Kristiansand is a widely roamed location in the warmer months, and the waiting lines for the volleyball courts can be frustratingly long. The annual festival "Palmesus" is hosted on the same beach, and is a popular event for locals, students and tourists alike.

Transport and infrastructure

Both campuses are located some distance outside their respective city centers, along the E18, one of eastern/southern Norway's major roadways (E18 becomes the equally important E39 right after passing the campus in Kristiansand).

Campus Kristiansand is served by virtually all bus routes in the city, as it lies along the city's central bus corridor. Therefore, it has numerous connections to local areas and neighboring municipalities alike. It also has several parking lots, with very reasonable prices for students (11kr/day). The bike infrastructure is pretty well-developed. Several bus routes carries travellers from campus to the city center (5–6 minutes travel time), where the Kristiansand bus, train and ferry terminal is located, as well as to Kristiansand airport.

Faculties and academia

The University of Agder has six faculties as well as an own unit for teacher education.

Research centres

• Achieving Accountability in School Practice
• Center for Artificial Intelligence Research
• Center for intelligent networks and signal processing
• Centre for Business Systems
• Centre for Care Research
• Centre for Cultural Studies
• Centre for Development Studies
• Centre for Didactics
• Centre for Digital Transformation (CeDiT)
• Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Centre for European Studies
• Centre for Gender Equality
• Centre for Innovation and Work Life Studies
• Centre for International Economics and Shipping
• Centre for Multicultural Activities
• Centre for Norwegian Studies Abroad
• Centre for Real Estate
• Center for Sustainable Energy Solutions
• Norwegian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (NORCOWE)

Library

Agder University Research Archive (AURA) is a full text digital archive of scientific papers, theses and dissertations from the academic staff and students at the University of Agder. The University Library administrates AURA.

References

58°9′46.82″N 8°0′11.6″E / 58.1630056°N 8.003222°E / 58.1630056; 8.003222