This page presents NTNU’s quality system for education. Here you will find short descriptions of why we have a quality system, the components of the system and how it works.

Some of the documents referred to on this page, are presently only available in Norwegian. Links to these documents are available on the Norwegian version of the page.

Main page: Education Quality at NTNU
Norsk versjon: Om NTNUs kvalitetssystem for utdanning

Why do we have a quality assurance system for education?

The academic communities at NTNU are committed to offering education that

• maintains a high international quality
• is updated with the latest developments within the fields of research and practice
• promotes interdisciplinary understanding and ethical reflections

The purpose of NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education is to ensure systematic evaluation and development of NTNU’s study programs, with the students’ learning as the core value. The system will contribute to a collective quality culture and ensure transparency and documentation of any development work.

National requirements that apply to quality assurance systems in higher education are given in the Higher Education Supervision Regulations (studietilsynsforskriften) and the Higher Education Quality Regulations (studiekvalitetsforskriften). NOKUT (the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education) are responsible for supervision of the universities’ own quality assurance systems.

How is NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education composed?

NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education constitutes the framework for the work on education quality and describes roles, responsibilities, tasks, guidelines, work processes and quality areas.

NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education consists of the following documents:

• The Board’s decision about NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education
• Guidelines for reporting, handling and follow-up of deviations in teaching and learning environment
• Guidelines for the development of the study program portfolio at NTNU (the portfolio guide)
• Guidelines for the design of study programs and courses at NTNU (the study plan guide)
• Guidelines for periodical reviews of study programs
• Guidelines for evaluation of subjects and programs (in progress)
• Guidelines for joint courses (in progress)
• The PhD-handbook

The guidelines are in pdf format and can be found at Guidelines in the Quality Assurance System

The following mandates are included in NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education:

• Mandate for the study program leader
• Mandate for the study program council
• Mandate for the Executive Committee for Teacher Education (FUL)
• Mandate for the Executive Committee for Engineering Education (FUS)
• Mandate for the Executive Committee for Applied Engineering Education (FUI)
• Mandate for the Learning Environment Committee (LMU)

NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education refers to and builds on the following internal documents:

• NTNU’s strategy 2018 – 2025 “Knowledge for a better world”
• Policy for quality assurance and development of the study program portfolio (The Portfolio Policy)

NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education is subject to and in accordance with the following external documents:

• The national University and University Colleges Act
• The national Higher Education Supervision Regulations
• The national Higher Education Quality Regulations
• The national Qualification Framework for Higher Education

NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education is based on and in accordance with the following external document:

• European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in European Higher Education Area (ESG)

The following documents are based on and support NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education:

• Guidelines for the preparation of an area course at NTNU
• Guidelines for the application to change the title of a study program
• Form for entering study programs

The following tools and resources are based on and act in support of NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education:

• KASPER
• Studiekvalitetsportalen
• Education Quality at NTNU
• Annual schedules and deadlines (Norwegian)
• Completing student evaluation of courses

See also: Tools and resources - education quality

How does NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education work?

NTNU is the largest university in Norway, and there is great variation among our disciplines. This means that NTNU's Quality Assurance System for Education cannot cover all the details, but constitutes a framework to support the local quality work.

NTNU's Quality Assurance System for Education ensures that:

• there is coherence between course, program and portfolio level
• the quality work is linked to other organizational processes, such as competence development, budget and infrastructure
• the knowledge obtained through the systematic quality work is actively used to assess and develop the quality of the education offered by NTNU
• the quality work covers all areas that are important for the students' learning outcome
• the quality work is anchored in NTNU’s strategy and adheres to national requirements

The faculties and departments make additional guidelines for the local quality work where appropriate.

See also: What do we mean by quality in education?

What constitutes high quality is to a large extent defined through dialogue between students, the academic environment and society. it is also through such dialogues, formal and informal alike, that the education is developed and improved. NTNU's Quality Assurance System for Education provides a structure for bringing the dialogues at different levels together. The system also ensures that the results of these dialogues are recorded and turned into immediate, short term and long term change.

Who is part of NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education?

Education quality is formed in the interaction between students, the academic environment and society. Quality work is a collective responsibility, but the formal authority and tasks are placed on management level. The students take an active part in the review and development of courses, programs, and portfolio, and NTNU cooperates strategically and systematically with stakeholders in society and working life to contribute to relevance, development and innovation.

On an overarching level, the Vice-rector for Education and the Department for Education Quality have a special responsibility to develop and follow up on NTNU’s Quality Assurance System. Our Centers for Outstanding Education and NTNU Teaching Excellence are important educational resources.

Roles and responsibilities are described in the board decision on NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education. See also the wiki All roles - education quality.

National Requirements for systematic quality assurance work

Through legislation and regulations, the Norwegian authorities have formulated a set of requirements that apply to the quality assurance work at all the Higher Education Institutions. The institutions have an independent responsibility to ensure that these requirements are met. In addition, NOKUT will on a regular basis supervise and observe how the institutions meet the requirements.

See also: National requirements for systematic quality assurance work (Norwegian)

Revision of NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for education

In the same way that our study program offers are continuously improved, we are also constantly working on improvements of the quality assurance system. The last revision was completed in May 2022.

In 2019, a revision for the Quality Assurance System for education was initiated, starting with a mapping of current practice and needs for improvement. Based on this, two working groups were formed in 2020 to work on recommendations for concrete improvement proposals. One group were given the task of taking a closer look at roles and responsibilities in the education quality system, while the other group was asked to propose improved methodology and routines for evaluation and follow-up.

Recommendations from these groups, in addition to the report from the NOKUT audit in 2022/23, will form the basis for a comprehensive proposal for adjustments in NTNU’s Quality Assurance System for Education.