The concept of a university in Norway’s Agder region traces back to Johann Friedrich Struensee’s proposal during his brief tenure as ruler of Denmark-Norway in the 18th century. Initially considering Kristiansand as the site, plans shifted towards establishing Norway’s first university in Christiania (now Oslo) by 1811. Despite this, the region saw the emergence of several smaller colleges to meet educational demands. Notable among these was the Kristiansand Teacher Training College, founded in 1839, followed by institutions like the Arendal College of Nursing and the Agder Music Conservatory in subsequent years. In 1994, the culmination of these efforts led to the establishment of Agder University College through a merger of six regional colleges. This institution gained full university status on September 1, 2007, becoming the University of Agder.