Ostfold University College has around 100 studies taught in new and modern premises. The university college has a total of just under 7,000 students. There are nearly 3,600 ordinary students at campus Halden, nearly 2,400 ordinary students at campus Fredrikstad. Nearly 1,000 students are taking continuing and further education programs under the auspices of His VIDERE (Centre for Continuing Education) at both campuses. The school has more than 550 members of staff. Students have good opportunities to take part in their studies abroad. Ostfold University College facilitates flexible education solutions.
Ostfold University College was founded on 1 August 1994. On this date, five university colleges in Østfold county merged to create the new institution: Ostfold nursing college, founded in 1955, Halden teacher training college, founded in 1963, Ostfold college of engineering, founded in 1965, Ostfold regional college, founded in 1977, Ostfold social educator college, founded in 1980. The University College Board consists of 11 members and has overall responsibility for the university college's activities. Ostfold University College has an elected rectorate (rector and pro-rector) and a permanently employed university college director. Deans head the Hero units (see the above list). Most of the university college's management and shared services are located in Halden.
The HiØ staff is engaged in basic research, applied research, professionally-oriented, and vocationally relevant research and development work in most areas covered by the university college's portfolio of study programs. Applied research and development work is often carried out in collaboration with business and industry in the region and the public sector. The students' competence is developed through research-based teaching and by introducing them to student-active research and development. The research carried out at HiØ also helps to safeguard and realize a multitude of values and cultures in society and develop new knowledge communicated to other researchers and users and society at large.
The Norwegian National Centre for Foreign Languages in Education is located at Østfold University College's Campus Halden as a unit with 6.2 full-time equivalents. HiØ's broad and extensive linguistic community helped to lay the foundations for establishing the Foreign Language Centre, which was formed to strengthen language subjects in Norwegian education in general and in business and industry in particular.
Østfold University College has many partners, both national and international. As for its mission, Østfold University College is a regional institution with particular responsibility for the local community. In addition to this regional focus, HiØ collaborates with over 100 universities worldwide and participates in international co-operation programs such as Erasmus+ and Nordplus.
