Government Allocates 1.3 Billion NOK for Student Housing The Ministry of Education announced 2,000 grants totaling 1.3 billion NOK to fund new or renovated student dormitories, with 1,623 projects for new builds or major conversions and 377 for rehabilitation [1][2][3][4]. Funding concentrates on Oslo and Bergen to address acute affordability pressures for students [1][2][3][4]. The grants aim to improve living conditions and reduce financial strain for university attendees [1][2][3][4].

Full‑Time Students Report Significant Pandemic Learning Decline survey of 448 University of Innlandet students found two‑fifths experienced poorer learning outcomes during COVID‑19, with 70 % of full‑time respondents saying they learned less [1][2][3][4]. Researchers Trine Løvold Syversen and Gunhild Wedum linked the loss to reduced peer interaction and limited lecturer contact [1][2][3][4]. Part‑time students reported unchanged or improved outcomes, highlighting a disparity in pandemic impact [1][2][3][4].

Iranian Campuses Experience Largest Student Protests Since January BBC‑verified footage captured thousands of demonstrators marching at Sharif University and other Tehran campuses, marking the biggest student‑led anti‑government actions since the January crackdown [1][2][3][4]. Protesters honored the thousands killed earlier in the year and confronted regime supporters on campus [1][2][3][4]. The unrest underscores escalating political tension among Iranian university students [1][2][3][4].

Norwegian Polar Institute Gains Full European Board Membership Effective January 2026, the institute became a full member of the European Polar Board, securing an independent vote in continental polar research coordination [1][2][3][4]. Director Camilla Brekke highlighted the membership as a new chapter for Norway’s influence on Arctic and Antarctic policy [1][2][3][4]. The move strengthens Norway’s role in shaping European polar strategy [1][2][3][4].

ANSA Juvenarte Prize Awards Support to Norwegian Art Students Abroad The Association of Norwegian Students Abroad awarded Karsten Krogh‑Hansen first prize (NOK 25 000) and Mina Stokke second prize (NOK 10 000) for their artistic projects, emphasizing international exposure and professional development [1][2][3][4]. The prize aims to sustain Norwegian art talent while studying overseas [1][2][3][4]. Winners received exhibition opportunities and networking support as part of the 2026 Juvenarte program [1][2][3][4].

South Carolina State University Shooting Leaves Two Dead, One Injured gunfire incident in a student‑housing building on Thursday night killed two people and wounded another [2][3][4]. The shooting follows a similar attack at the same campus in October 2025, which resulted in one fatality [2][3][4]. Authorities have not released suspect details, and the incident has renewed campus‑security concerns in the United States [2][3][4].