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The University of Gävle has approximately 17 000 students and more than 50 study programs and second-cycle programs. Seven hundred fifty courses are offered in the fields of Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences, and Technology. In July 2004, as the second higher education institution in Sweden, the University of Gävle was environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. This certification comprises education and research in collaboration with the surrounding community. We are at the forefront of working with sustainable development, and we are immensely proud of this fact! Built Environment and Health-promoting Working Life are the overarching research profiles of the University of Gävle. Fields of excellence are, for instance, Spatial Planning with a specialization in the sustainable built environment and Musculoskeletal Disorders, which aims to prevent work-related injuries. In 2010, the University of Gävle was given degree-awarding powers for third-cycle programs in the profile area of Built Environment, and in 2012 Health-Promoting Working Life received this permission. We have adapted the programs to the market demands and dared to try new teaching types, for instance, different forms of distance education. Today, the University of Gävle is one of Sweden's leading universities in distance education. Specific distance courses have meetings on one of the campus sites; others are based only on modern IT support. The wide range of distance courses enables students to live in their home town and still carry out academic studies. The University of Gävle is human-centered and develops an understanding of a sustainable living environment. The University of Gävle has a leading position in education and research for a sustainable human living environment. Through a well-developed collaboration with other universities, local and regional businesses, and the civil and public sector, the University of Gävle provides: A range of professional study and training programs satisfying society's need for skills at the local, regional and national levels, and that are requested by our students, First and second cycle study programs in our vital areas, Research and third cycle programs of a high international standard in our profile areas, High accessibility to the University's study programs through flexible solutions with unlimited study opportunities in time and space, An attractive and stimulating working and learning environment with distinct international elements. The profile of research and education at the University of Gävle is becoming more distinct. The profile is based on the University's strong fields of Health-Promoting Working Life and Built Environment and a research profile in educational sciences. The University purposefully invests in nationally and internationally successful research and in the right to award Licentiate and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Researchers in the profile areas develop beneficial working and living climates. For example, researchers specialized in energy systems solutions cooperate with environmental psychologists to create healthy indoor climates. Researchers specialized in musculoskeletal disorders collaborate with healthcare staff to prevent injuries and find methods for quick rehabilitation. We develop the educational sciences research profile through extended research collaboration between the faculties that offer first-cycle courses. The University also continues to extend its internationalization of education and research. Particular efforts are made in collaborations with China, India, and countries in Europe. The research in Built Environment has excellent potential in international research collaborations, and the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research has extensive research collaborations with international groups, which may be extended to include also educational initiatives. The University of Gävle has become one of the leading universities in the country within distance learning, and we offer whole programs and several courses as distance learning. At the University of Gävle, we offer around 50 programs and several freestanding courses. Study full-time or part-time, in the evenings, or choose different distance learning forms; some courses and programs are entirely web-based. Activities at a university should maintain internationally high quality. The quality and the international competitiveness of first and second cycle programs, research, third cycle programs, and artistic research and development should continuously be improved. As much as possible, the quality management should expand upon the stated and reviewable targets of the University (extract from the public service agreements for 2008). Our campus at Kungsbäck in Gävle offers a lovely study environment with all teaching in one location. It is a place of knowledge only a few minutes from the center. View full university