Rudolf Steiner University College granted institutional accreditation

NOKUT has approved Rudolf Steiner University College’s systematic quality assurance work and has decided to grant it institutional accreditation as a university college.

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Logo: Rudolf Steiner University College
Logo: Rudolf Steiner University College

In recent years, Rudolf Steiner University College has worked to achieve university college accreditation. This accreditation gives the institution expanded authority to establish new bachelor’s programmes without applying to NOKUT for approval. The application for accreditation was submitted to NOKUT on 1 November 2023.

To obtain this accreditation, the institution must, among other things, have an approved quality assurance system.

Today, NOKUT’s board concluded that the systematic quality assurance work is satisfactory, and that Rudolf Steiner University College also meets all other requirements for accreditation.

“This is an important milestone for Rudolf Steiner University College and a good example of how institutions can develop through targeted work with quality and strategy,” says NOKUT Director Kristin Vinje, who congratulates the institution on its institutional accreditation.

Quality assurance work approved on the second attempt

Following an audit in 2024, Rudolf Steiner University College received a decision pointing out certain deficiencies in its systematic quality assurance work. These deficiencies required the institution to take measures to ensure that the expert committee could trust that the quality assurance system was safeguarding and further developing the quality of education. These issues have now been resolved, and the institution has documented a satisfactory level of systematisation in its quality work.

The expert committee that assessed the application highlights that Rudolf Steiner University College has a clear and well-developed strategy for both the 2021–2025 period, where institutional accreditation has been the main goal, and for the period up to 2030. The committee also believes that the institution is well equipped to manage its new accreditation authority. It further notes that the college has stable educational and research activities, a clear academic profile in Waldorf education, and active national and international networks.

  • Abstract

    The Norwegian National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) was established in 2003 with the mandate to review both the quality practices and the quality assurance work at the country’s higher education institutions. NOKUT abides by the European Standards and Guidelines 2015 (ESG) which are operationalized in three pieces of national legislation: the central University and University College Act, the ministerial Quality Assurance Regulations and NOKUT’s own Academic Supervision Regulations.

    The reviews are periodical in nature, and each institution gets called upon every six to eight years. NOKUT appoints expert committees for these reviews who, in the first phase, examine targeted documentation from each institution, consisting of strategy, framework and implementation of internal quality assurance systems and systematic quality work. The second phase is a site visit where the committee interviews key stakeholders such as the leadership group, relevant faculty members, administrative staff and students. If the expert committee concludes that the institution falls short of the ESG criteria as operationalised in the laws and acts, i.e., non-compliant, NOKUT might limit the institutions’ accreditation rights.

    Rudolf Steiner University College (RSUC) was established in 1981 as the “Antroposofisk Pedagogisk Seminar” to educate teachers for the growing number of Steiner schools in Norway, and was officially accredited as a private university college in 1984. RSUC offers three bachelor’s degrees in Waldorf early childhood teacher education, Waldorf teacher education and Anthroposophical social pedagogy. RSUC also offers a master’s programme in Waldorf education, as well as a joint master’s degree in Waldorf teacher education (classes 1–7) in collaboration with Oslo Metropolitan University. RSUC has around 300 active students and 23 full-time equivalent staff members.

    NOKUT reviewed RSUC’s quality work for the third time in 2024. The expert committee concluded that RSUC’s quality assurance work was only partly compliant with the national regulations. To achieve full compliance, RSUC was required to address the following points by 12 December 2025: firstly, to complete two internal periodic reviews according to their original 2023 plan, and secondly, to document the systematic monitoring of existing study programmes in accordance with all relevant accreditation requirements set out in law and regulations.

    RSUC submitted new documentation within the set deadline. After reviewing the new documentation, the committee concluded that the quality assurance work at RSUC meets the required standards. RSUC has outlined the routines and terms of reference for the expert committees conducting the periodic reviews of their study programmes, and completed two internal periodic reviews. RSUC has also documented systematic review processes to ensure that existing study programmes align with accreditation requirements. The committee recommends RSUC clarify the processes and routines for the systematical monitoring of its study programmes within the quality assurance system, and specify who is responsible for following up if requirements are not met.

    The committee is satisfied with the effort made by the institution over the last year and considers the quality assurance system and the quality assurance work at RSUC to be satisfactory.

  • Abstract

    Norway’s national agency for quality assurance in Education (NOKUT) was established in 2003 with the mandate to review both the quality practices and the quality assurance work at the country’s higher education institutions. NOKUT is also the accreditation agency governing accreditation of new institutions and degree programmes. Norway has four categories of higher education institutions (HEI), with the designation “university” having the fullest mandate. Institutions cannot either become an HEI or move within the four categories of HEIs without an accreditation from NOKUT. NOKUT abides by the European Standards and Guidelines 2015 (ESG) which are operationalized in three pieces of national legislation: the central Act relating to universities and university colleges, the ministerial Quality Assurance Regulations and NOKUT’s own Academic Supervision Regulations.

    A university college without accreditation applying to become an accredited university college must fulfil all relevant requirements as per the regulations listed above. To ensure this, NOKUT appoints an expert committee to assess the institution. Based on its comprehensive review of the institution’s organization, quality assurance practices and results and a two-day site visit, the committee submits a final report with its recommendation to NOKUT. The report details whether the institution has demonstrated a capability to carry the weight of the mandate a university college designation implies.

    Steinerhøyskolen is a private university college that has operated as a foundation since 1999. The institution offers accredited study programs at both bachelor’s and master’s levels within the field of Steiner pedagogy. It was originally established in 1981 as the Anthroposophical Pedagogical Seminar, with the purpose of training teachers for Waldorf schools in Norway and the Nordic region. In 1983, the Ministry approved the then two-year program as qualifying for teaching positions in Waldorf schools. The institution was subsequently approved under the Private University College Act, and in 1984 its official name was changed to Rudolf Steiner University College. In 2016, the name was shortened to Steinerhøyskolen. In 2024, Steinerhøyskolen had approximately 255 registered students and 20 full-time equivalent staff.

    On 1 November 2023, Steinerhøyskolen applied to NOKUT for accreditation as a university college. NOKUT carried out a review of Steinerhøyskolens’ quality assurance practices and quality assurance work simultaneous with the handling of the application, and the same expert committee took part in both processes. The committee first concluded that Steinerhøyskolens´ quality assurance work was only partially compliant with the national regulations. After reviewing new documentation from Steinerhøyskolen, the committee has, however, concluded that Steinerhøyskolens’ quality assurance work is now compliant with national regulations.

    The committee therefore concludes that all requirements for accreditation as a university college are met, and that Steinerhøyskolen is able to discharge the duties of an accredited university college.

Facts

Rudolf Steiner University College is a private institution organised as a foundation. It was established in 1981 to train teachers for Waldorf schools in Norway and the Nordic region. Today, the college offers, among other things, bachelor’s programmes in Waldorf education for primary and early childhood teachers, a primary teacher education programme in cooperation with OsloMet, a master’s degree in Waldorf education, and one-year programmes in the arts. In autumn 2024, the college had 255 students across six study programmes and 20 full-time equivalent staff.

NOKUT is an external quality assurance agency that conducts audits of quality assurance work at all Norwegian universities and university colleges and processes accreditation applications. The decision on institutional accreditation gives Rudolf Steiner University College greater academic autonomy and responsibility for ensuring the quality of new study programmes.

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