This is NIVA
NIVA is a Nordic education institute funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. NIVA has been an active player in the field of occupational health and safety education for over 40 years. During this time, more than 13 000 experts and specialists from over 40 countries have participated and networked through NIVA’s activities. Today, around 40 % of attendees come from countries outside of the Nordic Region. Our courses are open to participants from all over the world.
Our mission
NIVA brings together top experts and knowledge from across the Nordic Region and transforms research findings into advanced courses and seminars within the field of occupational health and safety. Our events are intended for researchers, practitioners and policy makers from the Nordic countries and beyond.
The Nordic Council of Ministers sets the mission of the Nordic Institute for Advanced Education in Occupational Health, which we shorten to “NIVA”, originating from the Swedish “Nordiska Institutionen för Vidareutbildning inom Arbetsmiljöområdet”.
Strategic focus
The Nordic Council of Ministers has established political priorities for the Nordic Co-operation Programme for Labour 2025–2030. A large and skilled labour force, adaptable labour markets, good working conditions, and a sound and inclusive working environment are all crucial factors in creating a green, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region. These priorities are mutually dependent and cannot be brought about separately from one another. The Nordic Council of Ministers for Labour will also use the coming period to direct more attention towards sustainable development, equality, and the youth perspective. The Council will take these, along with other interdisciplinary focus areas, into account in its initiatives and activities in co-operation with the other Councils of Ministers. These objectives form the foundation for the strategic planning of NIVA’s operations.
Read more about the Nordic Co-operation Programme for Labour 2025–2030.
Course offering
The work environment is a cross-disciplinary area. The challenges it poses change as working life changes. Globalisation, digitalisation, and demographic development in our societies are driving forces of the changes to working life that we face now, and in the years to come. During the ongoing strategy period, we will see the emergence of different working conditions and changes to the organisation of work in general. We’re seeing these trends right here and now, and NIVA is monitoring research in the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe to ensure that the courses we offer are relevant.
Special challenges in the work environment for the Nordic labour markets in the coming years include:
Sustainability
At NIVA, we recognise that sustainability is integral to our mission and the future of occupational health and safety. Aligned with the Vision 2030 framework, we are committed to implementing sustainable practices across our operations. Our approach includes several key principles:
Course Development: We prioritise course proposals that contribute to sustainable economic and labour market criteria, ensuring that the knowledge we share promotes practices that are beneficial for both individuals and the environment.
Eco-Friendly Choices: In organising our events, we choose certified hotels and service providers that uphold recognised ecolabels, such as Green Key, Nordic Swan, EU Ecolabel, and the Green Globe certificate. This commitment extends to our catering, where we strive to prioritise sustainable choices by utilising local produce whenever possible and selecting options that align with our commitment to sustainability.
Minimising Waste: We reduce material usage by providing digital lecture materials instead of paper copies and by avoiding merchandise products, thus minimising our environmental footprint.
Embracing Digital Solutions: We are increasingly offering online events, currently providing about 60% of our events in this format. This shift not only decreases our carbon footprint but also enhances accessibility for participants worldwide.
Social Sustainability: Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental considerations; we also aim to foster social sustainability by strengthening connections among individuals across the Nordic region. We believe in the power of collaboration and the importance of building a supportive community.
Through these initiatives, NIVA is dedicated to leading by example and contributing to a sustainable future in occupational health and safety.
Our story
NIVA was founded in 1982 in Helsinki, Finland in conjunction with the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health (FIOH). Even at that time there was a strong belief in the importance of discussing common Nordic occupational health and safety matters and in the power of bringing together Nordic experts in the field.
Today, NIVA is the only institute in Europe whose sole focus is on an international and advanced level of occupational education. Course participants are welcomed regardless of where in the world they come from.
Our philosophy
NIVA’s core values lie in promoting a good working life through the research-based formation and dissemination of knowledge. We strive to bridge the gap between theory and practice and make sure that our activities are of a high quality in terms of their academic content, pedagogy, and practical arrangements. We rely on our extensive network of occupational health and safety specialists throughout research institutions and organisations, primarily in the Nordic countries but also from elsewhere in the world. We highly appreciate the participants’ knowledge and believe in the value of human interaction.
Our concept is primarily to provide an education platform, that facilitates networking and social interaction in which people can meet face-to-face. The positive feedback we receive from both attendees and lecturers inspires us to continue with this successful concept. However, digitalisation also provides great opportunities for learning and communication. NIVA strives to integrate digitalised components into our activities where this is the best way of supporting participants’ learning and interaction.
Our activities are primarily rooted in the Nordic countries and, the northern areas of the Nordic Region (with some exceptions) and in places that are easily accessible. Our courses and conferences last two to three days and provide real information of substance and offer excellent networking opportunities.
