New PhD programme accredited

VUC has recently received the accreditation for the first internal doctoral programme "Education, language and culture" which may start up in the 2025/26 academic year. This programme will be a second PhD- programme since VUC already offers a joint doctoral programme in health & social sciences in cooperation with Molde University College. 

-This is a historic milestone for Volda University College. It means that our hard work has been rewarded, but it also means that we now have to roll up our sleaves and finalise the plans for this vital programme, say VUC Rector Odd Helge Mjellem Tonheim.

NOKUT recently decided, after a long process of scrutiny, that the PhD-programme meets all requirements and that is approved for further development. The director of NOKUT, Kristin Vinje, announced this as not only an approval of a doctoral programme, but as an overall show of confidence in Volda University College and its ability to offer programme and research at the highest level.

Since 2015, VUC has cooperated with Molde University College on a joint doctoral programme in Health & Social Science, but the new PhD-programme will be the first that VUC is solely responsible for.

May start up in 2025/26

This outcome is what we expected and hoped for after the positive feedback we received from NOKUT in the autumn of 2023, says Rector Tonheim.

The rector notes the important consequence that a PhD-programme will make VUC self-accredited in developing Master's programmes in the fields of study covered by the PhD. This effect of a doctoral programme is crucial for VUC since it from now on  can avoid lengthy review processes for changes in its post-graduate programmes in Education, Language and Culture.

The plan is for the new PhD-programme to start up already in the 2025/26 academic year.

The PhD programme places Volda on the academic map

The many academic staff that will be involved in the new doctoral programme are positive that this will have many positive side-effects for VUC.

One of these faculty members is Pernille Fiskerstrand. She is currently in a professor track and will be one of many possible mentors for future PhD-candidates at VUC. 

– This news is immensely important! VUC will be able to educate doctoral students within a subject area that our region has in great demand for. Moreover, it is crucial for the future of VUC as an independent higher education institution and for recruiting academic staff for our many post-graduate programmes. Finally, it is a welcome recognition of the competence and quality of the academic departments at VUC. 

Fiskerstrand also means that the PhD-programme will stimulate and strengthen the research output from Volda University College. 

– This programme will place us in the academic map and lead to a broader recognition of our entire portfolio of study offers. It will lead to many positive side-effects for the academic departments involved in the programme, and for the surrounding region, says Fiskerstrand.