NordTradCraft network

Higher Education on Craft Traditions (NordTradCraft) is a Nordplus network connecting eight universities in the Nordic-Baltic region. The network aims to advance international cooperation in traditional craft studies. NordTradCraft includes:

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway;
• University of Eastern Finland JOENSUU, Finland;
• University of Gothenburg, Sweden;
• University of Helsinki, Finland;
• University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway;
• University of Tartu, Estonia;
• Pallas University of Applied Science, Estonia;
• Uppsala University, Sweden.

Find out more about the partner institutions.

The partners offer study programs that preserve traditional craft knowledge with a future-oriented approach. We regard heritage properties and qualities as environmental, cultural, and societal assets for the continuing development of society from local, national, and global perspectives. Traditional crafts studies are rare at the university level. There is a lack of systematic cooperation between higher education institutions in this field that would thus benefit from international collaboration and student/staff exchange.

We intend to advance the programs concerning traditional crafts in the Nordic-Baltic cultural area and to integrate institutionally separated researchers and students in traditional crafts and craft pedagogy. We aim to encourage teachers and students to seek innovative approaches to established practices by exchanging knowledge, experience, and vision on how to bring traditional crafts to the contemporary environment and the labor market, keeping in mind the knowledge of the past and the needs of the future. Network activities began successfully in 2019. Find an overview of the past network events.

The network is mainly funded by the Nordplus Higher Education Programme.

Check out more information about the upcoming intensive course, taking place in Viljandi, Estonia on September 14-19.