University West is a university college located in Trollhättan, in southwestern Sweden. Until 2008, the college was called University College of Trollhättan/Uddevalla and had three campuses, in Trollhättan, Uddevalla and Vänersborg, but all study programmes have been relocated to new facilities in Trollhättan.
University West offers bachelor’s (first cycle), master’s (second cycle) and doctoral (third cycle) programmes within a variety of fields like IT, economics and management, health studies, education and engineering. In 2020 there were 27 first cycle programmes and 17 second and third cycle programmes.
As of 2021 there are 13,000 students enrolled and the university employs more than 700 people, including more than 60 professors.
Work-integrated learning in education and research
University West implements work-integrated learning (WIL) in its education and research. The university sees both theoretical and practical knowledge as crucial in education and knowledge creation. Through WIL, students get an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations and are able to bring back practical experiences into the classroom, thereby improving learning and the student’s grasp of his or her field.
University West conducts extensive and internationally recognized research within the field of work-integrated learning and has a unique doctoral programme i WIL. They university is also a member of WACE, an international organisation aimed at strengthening cooperative and work-integrated learning around the world.
Departments and Schools
The university consists of four academic departments/schools.
- School of Business, Economics and IT
- Department of Social and Behavioural Studies
- Department of Health Sciences
- Department of Engineering Sciences