ECIU University
With ECIU University, UiS offers unique possibilities to our students: Take micro-modules, solve challenges in international student teams and travel across Europe!
You can find the ECIU team on the 3rd floor of the Kitty Kielland building, or email us at eciu@uis.no
What is ECIU University?
UiS is one of 12 universities offering innovative education opportunities for the benefit of students and society.

At ECIU University students, lecturers, and external partners work together to make a difference. The 12 European universities offer small courses published on a shared online platform, Engage, where all students can apply for what they're interested in. All courses are free for UiS students.
There are two main types of courses:
Micro-modules
Micro-modules are compressed courses that give you extra competence in a specific area, for example a foreign language, artificial intelligence or sustainable urban development. Micro-modules are often digital, but can also include a mini-exchange at the host university. If the course includes travel, you can apply for travel support from UiS.
Student challenges
An ECIU challenge is about finding a solution to a real problem, for example within sustainability, energy, or social issues. The participants work in multidisciplinary teams with students from other ECIU universities. Most challenges involve traveling to the host institution, for which you can usually apply for travel support from UiS.
A community for life
The ECIU University motto is "Connects U for life". By collaborating with students from other disciplines, universities and countries, you not only gain knowledge and skills that are useful far beyond your life as a student, but also an international network.
UiS also hosts events and get-togethers for our ECIU students (and everyone else who wants to join!) several times during the academic year.
Participating universities

- Dublin City University, Ireland
- Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
- National Institutes of Science and Technology (INSA), France
- Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
- University of Trento, Italy
- Linköping University, Sweden
- University of Aveiro, Portugal
- University of Twente, The Netherlands
- University of Tampere, Finland
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spania
- Lodz University of Technology, Poland
- University of Stavanger, Norway
Are you a student coming to University of Stavanger from another ECIU university? Visit our page with information for incoming ECIU students!
How it works
Sign up for an account at the ECIU University Engage platform using your UiS Feide-ID. This gives you access to short courses (micro-modules) and student team challenges offered by the 12 collaborating universities in ECIU University. New learning opportunities become available in the Engage platform throughout the year.
Stay updated in Canvas on new ECIU learning opportunities and community events hosted by UiS.
Academic credentials
Challenges and micro-modules vary in length, from 1-2 days, to a whole semester. Both challenges and micro-modules generally provide ECTS, with ECIU-courses usually varying between 1-6 ECTS.
All ECIU activities that provide credits are approved as higher education. Whether these can be included in your study programme must be assessed in each case, in the same way as other outside courses. Find out by contacting the study administration at your programme.
Individual accommodation
If you have any form of disability or special needs and are planning to participate in an ECIU-course, please make sure to contact both the host university and UiS early in the process to explore individual accommodation options for exchange students.
Please also see information regarding accommodation in everyday study and special examination arrangements if you are participating in ECIU-courses here at UiS.
Opportunities for external partners
Are you a business, organization or public enterprise that needs assistance in solving challenges for yourself and society?
External partners are an essential part of the ECIU University ecosystem. By collaborating with University of Stavanger your organisation can access young talents from all over Europe, who come together to solve real-life challenges under the guidance of top educators.
Our student challenges are developed from suggestions by external partners. Representatives from the challenge providers take part as expert sources for international, cross-disciplinary student teams who try to find feasible solutions to the problem. ECIU challenges should always have a sustainability focus and their solutions should be of value to society at large.
Do you have a specific challenge? Get in touch through our collaboration portal (choose "InGenious or ECIU University").
Contact the ECIU team at UiS
General questions: eciu@uis.no
Project manager ECIU University: Trym Holbek
Project adviser: Julie Høivik Aase
ECIU University news
ECIU students found new solutions for wind power
Over 30 students from six countries gathered at the University of Stavanger to develop solutions that could make the win...
Turning ideas into impact: The Ceetnova initiative
UiS is leading the project Connecting European Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem through Knowledge Valorisation ...
Information for incoming ECIU students
What happens after you are admitted to an ECIU course at UiS?
Solving offshore wind challenges in Norway
How can we build wind installations in the sea with the least possible environmental impact? That was the task for 38 EC...
ECIU University issues e-sealed micro-credentials
In a historic European first, the European university alliance is rolling out centralized, tamper-proof micro-credential...
Solving societal challenges through Teacher Education
The goal of the project Teachers for Futures, funded under the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies action, is to influence Europe...
Unique experience with international master's thesis
Marta Obi collaborated with students from Sweden and Italy when she wrote her master's thesis. ECIU University gave her ...
Next phase of ECIU University granted
The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) was granted the European Union Erasmus programme support to co...
More information about ECIU
European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) is a network of universities in Europe focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation and impact on society.
The consortium consists of 13 members. There can only be one member university in the ECIU per country.
ECIU was founded in 1997, and UiS joined in 2012. ECIU University has received European University status and funding by the EU since 2019.
