In the Dean’s Corner, Eivind Engebretsen, Dean of the Open Campus, University of Oslo, informs you about the latest updates on the Open Campus, Circle U.’s digital gateway to educational offers for students.
Dear Circle U. colleagues, students, and partners,
Last week in Pisa, I had the pleasure of presenting our latest Open Campus update to the General Assembly. I would like to share the highlights with our broader Circle U. community and outline the next steps in our shared journey.
Our clear long-term vision
At the heart of the Open Campus’s evolution are three guiding principles:
- Seamless Integration – Each Open Campus initiative should naturally integrate into the regular academic programmes of all our universities.
- Alliance-wide Awareness – Students and staff across Circle U. must easily discover, access, and benefit from these opportunities.
- Openness to Innovation – The Open Campus remains genuinely open to diverse and innovative educational formats, provided they are collaboratively developed by at least two partner institutions.
These principles keep us ambitious and adaptable, while grounding our development in institutional priorities and the lived experiences of students.
Prioritising regular, credit-bearing courses
This past year taught us that while pilot programmes are valuable, lasting impact emerges when courses become embedded within the regular curricula of host universities. We are thus committed to prioritising regular offerings that consistently appear in course catalogues year after year. A key focus is our growing suite of Bachelor-level sustainability modules, which blend science, social science, and the humanities, fostering interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
Expanding our BA module portfolio
Thanks to the dedication of many colleagues, we now have 11 active modules and another six launching in 2026. However, our collective ambition is to have at least 35 modules by 2027. To achieve this goal, the Assembly agreed that each Circle U. university will develop or adapt at least two additional modules. Local support teams—including the Open Campus chair and WP3 coordinators—will offer guidance, share best practices, and simplify the module development process. To further assist academics, we’ve developed a practical guide providing step-by-step instructions on creating new modules. Please help us circulate this valuable resource widely within your institutions.
Expanding opportunities beyond modules
While modules form the backbone of our initiative, we aim to broaden opportunities for international experiences. Thus, the Open Campus will also embrace Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects and diverse physical exchange tracks, including short-term, blended, and semester-long exchanges. Additionally, flexible arrangements—such as exchange tracks, teacher mobility, co-supervision, and other collaborative models—can later evolve into joint modules or programmes as partnerships deepen.
How you can contribute
- Academic staff: Consider adapting existing courses for cross-alliance delivery or co-designing innovative modules with international colleagues.
- Students: Share your ideas and preferences regarding themes, skills, and educational formats you would like to see within the Open Campus portfolio. Your feedback shapes our priorities.
- Administrative teams: Engage actively with local Open Campus teams by contributing your expertise in mobility, virtual learning environments, and quality assurance.
Looking ahead
The Open Campus is no longer merely an experiment—it is becoming an integral, dynamic infrastructure for European higher education. By combining regular, accredited offerings with flexible and innovative learning formats, we aim to expand access to meaningful international experiences for all Circle U. students—whether on campus, online, or in hybrid settings.
Thank you for your continued engagement. Your contributions are central to embedding the Open Campus into the everyday life of our alliance.
Warm regards,
Eivind Engebretsen
Dean of the Open Campus
