
ECIU University
UiS is part of ECIU University, where students and researchers collaborate with cities and businesses to solve real-life challenges. In adittion to challenges, ECIU University offers micromodules. If you are participating in a ECIU-challenge or micromodule, you could apply to get your expences covered.
For students
An ECIU-challenge is about finding a solution to a real problem related to sustainable development. The participants work in international teams with students from other ECIU Universities, and several challenges provide the opportunity to travel. Students can apply for funds to cover expences.
Micromodules are online courses that can give you extra competence in a specific area, for example foreign languages, artificial intelligence or sustainable urban development.
Challenges and micromodules vary in length, from 1-2 days, to a whole semester. Many challenges provide ECTS and all micromodules provide from 1 to 15 ECTS.
Check out available challenges and micromodules on the ECIU University webpage!
Watch students solve a challenge
For potential partners
Are you a business, organization or public enterprise that wants to collaborate on solving challenges?
UiS is dependent on input from external partners to be able to offer our students real challenges. By collaborating with UiS, your company can get help to solve societal challenges you are facing.
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: Nora Skaansar
ECIU University news
Change the way you learn and create real impact
UiS offers unique learning opportunities through ECIU University. Right now there are five student challenges and eight...
ECIU to find solutions for closer international university cooperation
How can European universities achieve a deeper, longer-term and flexible form of cooperation? With EU support, the Europ...
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...
UiS strengthens its European ambitions
University of Stavanger continues its collaboration with the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) netwo...
More information about ECIU
European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) is a network of universities in Europe focusing on entrepeneurship, innovation and making a real impact on social development.
The consortium consists of 14 members. A country can only have one member of ECIU. See the list of members here.
ECIU was founded in 1997. UiS joined in 2012.
A European university

In 2019, ECIU University won the EU's first award round for European Universities. UiS thus became one of the pioneers in developing a new European model for higher education.
The goal is to establish a genuine European university where students, researchers, companies, public organizations and citizens come together to create relevant and innovative solutions that solve real challenges and have a positive impact on society.
In 2022, we won another grant to continue building our European University for four new years. Some 14.4 million euros will be used to further develop and scale up the activities.
An innovative university model
ECIU University wants to change the way education is provided. Through Challenge Based Learning (CBL), both students and external partners get to participate in designing the teaching. We accept challenges from public and private actors and put together international and interdisciplinary teams that together will define issues and develop innovative solutions.
In addition to challenges, ECIU University also offers short micro-courses. These can be taken individually, or to gain the extra knowledge or skills needed to solve a specific challenge. Both micro-courses and challenges are offered by all ECIU universities and can be taken by both graduate students and as continuing and further education.
International mobility
Increased mobility of students, academic staff and employees from partner companies, both physical and virtual, is part of ECIU University. Bringing students and teachers together from many different cultures with varied work experience and different perspectives and approaches will strengthen Europe's competitiveness.
Join ECIU University
Are you a company, organization or public company that wants to work together to solve challenges? Get in touch through our collaboration portal (choose Propose a challenge).
Do you want to check out what kind of micro course is available? Check the offer on the ECIU University website.
Read more on ECIU University's website.