Profit ban for private colleges

Private universities that receive public funds will from 2018 onwards not be allowed to make a profit, the Norwegian government has announced.

The rule aims to make sure that institutions use their funds and tuition fees for the benefit of students, the government said on 21 December. The new regulation outlines how private institutions can use grants and money from tuition fees, and how the ministry will monitor compliance.

“The new rules should make it easier for the government to monitor that public grants and student payments are used accordance with the regulations,” said Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, Norway’s research minister. “At the same time, it is emphasised that the regulations will not take unnecessary involvement in private institutions’ activities.”