History

VID Specialized University was established in 2016 as a result of a merger of several colleges with historical roots dating back to 1843. This makes VID Norway's oldest private higher education institution.

A Legacy of Dignity and Social Justice

Since its early days, VID has been characterized by pioneering efforts for human dignity and social justice in Norway and internationally. The university has focused on building competence and developing knowledge, actively contributing to the formation of institutions, organizations, and new services within the health and welfare sectors, the church, and civil society.

On January 1, 2016, VID Specialized University AS was established through the merger of four diaconal and theological colleges: Diakonhjemmet høgskole, Haraldsplass diakonale høgskole, Betanien høgskole, and Misjonshøgskolen. The name VID stands for scientific, international, and diaconal. In 2018, Diakonova also joined the merger, and subsequently, the Centre for Intercultural Communication (SIK) in Stavanger, the Church Educational Centre North (KUN) in Tromsø, and the interdisciplinary continuing education offered by the SEPREP foundation became part of VID.

Today, VID continues to build on its rich history, working to prepare future generations with the knowledge and skills needed for an increasingly complex world.

Misjonshøgskolen, Stavanger

Founded in 1843, Misjonshøgskolen is the third oldest institution of higher education in Norway, following the Norwegian Military Academy (1750) and the University of Oslo (1811).

Misjonshøgskolen was the first Norwegian college to focus on the world outside Europe. It was also the first Norwegian college to have African students from the 1860s and the only college to provide priest education for young people from impoverished backgrounds throughout the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

Diakonhjemmet Høgskole, Oslo og Sandnes

Diakonhjemmet høgskole was established in 1890 by the priest and editor Hartvig Halvorsen (1854–1910), who was also instrumental in the founding of the Faculty of Theology.

What began with ten deacon students at a monastery-like care home in Kristiania has gradually grown in scope, evolving into a comprehensive private educational institution operating within the public health and education sectors.

Haraldsplass diakonale høgskole, Bergen

Haraldsplass diakonale høgskole was established in 1918 under the name Bergen Diakonissehjem, but it had been functioning as a separate department under the deaconess house in Christiania since 1873.

Høgskolen Betanien, Bergen

Betanien opened its own nursing school in Kalfaret, Bergen, on October 1, 1923. Before 1908, all Betanien sisters were trained in Christiania, but this year marked the beginning of a new era. Betanien in Bergen started offering nursing education in collaboration with the Bergen Municipal Hospital at Engen..

Høyskolen Diakonova, Oslo

Høyskolen Diakonova bwas founded in 1916 in Rosenborg, Oslo, and was known as Menighetssøsterhjemmet until 2005. The school was owned by the Diakonova Foundation, which was an independent, self-owned diaconal institution within the Church of Norway.