About the organisation

The Network for University Co-operation Tibet - Norway (Network) is an academic collaboration between institutions, researchers and students in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Norway. The project involves several disciplines and has to main components; Research and Education.

The main objectives of the Network are;

• To generate new insight into the environment, culture and society of Tibet.
• To enhance institution and competence building for Tibetan researchers and students.
• To contribute to the exchange of Tibetan and Norwegian students and researchers.
• To primarily involve Tibetan and Norwegian collaborating partners, since the Network is based on a bilateral cooperation agreement between these entities.
• To carry out university level research and education.

The Network was established in 1994, and in 2004 a new five-year cooperation agreement was signed between two academic institutions in the TAR (Tibet University and Tibet Academy of Social Sciences) and four universities in Norway (the University of Oslo (UiO), the University of Bergen (UiO), the University of Tromsų (UiT) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)).

A board directs the Network, and its activities are coordinated by a secretariat located at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo. The board consists of representatives from the four participating Norwegian universities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Peace Research Institute (PRIO). In addition, an English teacher is employed by the Network and stationed at Tibet University. The English teacher mainly concentrates on giving English classes and preparing candidates for university studies in Norway.

History of Cooperation Agreements

1994:

The first five-year cooperation agreement was signed between the four Norwegian universities and Tibet University, Tibet Academy of Social Sciences and the Scientific and Technological Committee of TAR.

1999:

Separate cooperation agreements for five new years were signed between the four Norwegian universities and Tibet University, and the Norwegian Universities and Tibet Academy of Social Sciences.

2000:

Cooperation agreements were signed between the four Norwegian universities and TAR Meteorological Bureau and TAR Forestry Department.

2004:

Seperate cooperation agreements were signed between the four Norwegian universities and Tibet University and the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences for five new years.

Financial support

The Network has received support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the four Norwegian partner universities and the Norwegian Research Council (NRC). A new NORAD Funding Contract Agreement for the period 2007 - 2009 was signed in March 2007.