HE has a role in stemming rural depopulation, deprivation
The concentration of universities in cities is contributing to depopulation and deprivation of rural areas in Norway and government should respond by legislating to decentralise higher education provision, according to a government report.
Universities and university colleges should be required by legislation to develop education opportunities in the rural districts for people living there, rather than encouraging people to move to the cities to study. The hope is that this would both encourage more people to stay and work in these areas and encourage more people from urban areas to study and build their lives in rural areas.