
Today, a millennium later, the University and colleges attract students to the town, and Trondheim is frequently called 'the technological capital of Norway'.
The town has about 160 thousand inhabitants, and that number does not even include the almost 30 thousand students who add so much colour to the city. Students in Trondheim have traditionally been active in voluntary work besides their studies. This has resulted in many fantastic cultural events and strong international commitment. Every other year the town hosts ISFiT, The International Student Festival in Trondheim, where more than 450 participants from 100 countries take part. ISFiT also awards the 'student peace price'.
The Trondheim students also run the main office of IAESTE (the International Association for Exchange of Students for Technological Experience). IAESTE arranges exchange for students for vocational training in more than 50 countries.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, or NTNU, is the country's leading institution for research and education in science and technology. NTNU is also a centre for the significant entrepreneurial environment in Trondheim. In addition, the University has a good reputation in the humanities and social sciences, and in recent years students have been encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary studies. The University College in Sør-Trøndelag (HiST) offers higher education in different studies and Queen Maud's College of Early Childhood Education (DMMH) educates nursery school teachers.