Academic Terminology
As I understand it, the term doctor is used in most places to indicate an
individual who has completed a doctoral degree.
Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor in Norway are ranks
that indicate academic achievement, whether or not one heads a program. The
same is true in the U.S.
There seem to be a wide range of practices in other nations of Europe.
>>number of universities (seven) which offer degrees; institutes
>>of technology, which offer both degrees and trade courses; and
>>polytechnics which focus largely on trade courses and "community"
>>education. Many polytechnics have become institutes in the last three
>>years as they have developed and adopted degree courses.
The nature of universities and colleges is so diverse that no one
definition fits all. In general, universities contain many kinds of
colleges and programs as well as research centers and other institutes.
Universities generally offer a full education up to and including doctoral
and generally including post-doctoral work. Colleges may or may not do.
In North America and Norway, a college is post-secondary. But in Norway and
in nations that use German-based languages, a "hoeyskole" (or "hochschule")
which might literally be translated "high school" is a college or
university-level program, in the sense of "highest school."
Ken Friedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Leadership and Strategic Design
Norwegian School of Management
Box 4676 Sofienberg
N-0506 Oslo, Norway
Phone: +47 22.98.51.07
Fax: +47 22.98.51.11
email: <
ken.friedman@bi.no>