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NORWAY | |
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| IS 540 - Readines for the Networked World | |||||||
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| NETWORKED LEARNING - Stage 3 |
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EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM: Norway has seven accredited universities, nine accredited specialized university institutions, 22 accredited university colleges, two accredited national colleges of the arts and several private institutions of higher education with either institutional- or programme accreditation. The Norwegian system of higher education comprises all the institutions and/or programmes that are accredited. With the exception of some private university colleges, all higher education institutions are state-run. In general, tuition is not required for study at Norwegian higher education institutions, although fees may be imposed for certain professional education programmes, further and special education programmes and studies at private institutions. In addition to their teaching activities, all the higher learning institutions, and particularly the universities, are responsible for conducting basic research as well as researcher training, primarily by means of graduate-level studies and doctoral degree programmes. 
Norway has laid out the following education plan with the intent of promoting information technology across all industry sectors:
Norway prides itself as a country characterized by both knowledge and education. This is most evident in Norway’s literacy rate (100%), which is the highest in the entire world. Historically, information technology was not seen as a strategic initiative. However, since the late 1990s, Norway has been spent significant effort on transforming Norway into an active participant in the knowledge economy. In short, the information and technology industry is a national priority. Information technology skills are now regarded as essential skill-set to increasing productivity in the Norwegian economy; therefore IT skills are promoted beginning in elementary to higher education. Their long-term commitment to technology education has produced a tech savvy population and skilled IT workforce; however it is estimated that Norway will have an ICT workforce shortage of 40,000 people by 2003. If Norway is to continue their impressive growth trend, the workforce shortage will have to be addressed. Fostering Norwegian information and communications technology skill-sets are essential developing an effective ICT workforce. Norway has designated the following three areas as ways to promote ICT:
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