The higher education system in Norway generally produces graduates with good skills
and labour market outcomes. This success can be largely attributed to Norway’s robust
and inclusive labour market and recent higher education reforms to improve quality.
However, some Norwegian students have poor labour market outcomes and past success
is no guarantee of future success, especially as the Norwegian economy upskills and
diversifies. This report provides advice and recommendations to improve the labour
market relevance and the outcomes of higher education in Norway. The analysis finds
that there is an opportunity to expand work-based learning opportunities, improve
career guidance, and do a better job of using innovative learning and teaching practices
to improve labour market relevance across the system. The report concludes that Norwegian
policy makers have a larger role to play in steering the system. Policy makers can
set the conditions for greater labour market relevance by strengthening the mechanism
for collaboration between higher education institutions and employers, ensuring better
coordination and use of labour market information, and redoubling efforts to support
quality learning and teaching. This report was developed as part of the OECD Enhancing
Higher Education System Performance project.