Concerned leadership on the hunt for housing solutions

NTNU has been investing heavily to attract international expertise and research strength, but is struggling to follow up with everyone who needs help getting a roof over their head in Trondheim’s tight housing market. The lack of housing has been a problem for years, but has escalated in keeping with the influx of more and more international researchers over time. It has never been worse than it is now.

“There is no hocus-pocus in this. We are constantly looking for new approaches. For a long time we have discussed the same issue with the Student Association, in relation to the increase in the number of foreign students and the housing needs this generates,” Singsaas wrote in an e-mail to UA.

A collective effort

He points out that NTNU has discussed the problem at length with the city of Trondheim, which has helped to the extent that it can.

“We probably need a larger collective effort in the community at large, so that we in Trondheim are better at accepting people from other countries who wish to study or work at NTNU and other research institutions in the city. Or in other companies and places where foreign workers are important to your business,” writes Singsaas.

He maintains that there is every reason to be concerned about the housing situation.

“The city's housing market is tight. We know that people from other countries who wish to settle here find it difficult to break into this market. It is a priority for the NTNU leadership to try to find a solution to this situation,” he writes.

Need 200 homes

According to a project report that Singsaas has been sent, 200 homes are needed to remedy the situation. The report is designed to clarify issues related to deciding who should be given priority in assigning NTNU housing. The University has access to about 150 units through direct ownership and through the NTNU and SINTEF Housing Association.

READ MORE: Foreign researchers struggle to find housing

The survey is part of NTNU’s efforts designed to remedy the increasingly precarious housing situation. Singsaas believes there is good reason to give greater priority to foreign scientists in allocating the university’s houses and apartments.

Reason for concern

He also points to the creation of NTNU’s International Researcher Support (IRS). The programme is designed to provide more direct assistance to researchers who need help finding housing, said Singsaas.

“These are the first steps we have taken. Now we have to consider our next steps in conjunction with the very first,” he said.

“This raises the question as to whether this situation will knock the legs out from under NTNU’s strategy to become internationally outstanding?”

“I would not use such strong terms. But there is reason to worry about the housing situation for our foreign researchers and students.”

Cannot build housing

IRS Project Manager Kathrine Vangen is concerned about the situation. She calls for new thinking and told UA last week that she believes the housing problem should also be factored into the ongoing campus project.

“Campus project is focused on developing areas for our main areas of operation: research and teaching. NTNU cannot on its own build housing for employees,” Singsaas says.

He also rejects the idea that NTNU can enter into dialogue with a private developer on long-term leases.

“That would be complicated for a government institution like NTNU to undertake, given the government regulations that we are subject to,” Singsaas says.