The regional nature of the regional colleges has assumed less importance over time in favour of specializations and more complete courses of education leading to degrees. Internationalization has also become an important aspect both of studies and research at the colleges. This effort has lead to a national reorganization of the regional colleges along with other colleges of higher learning. Consequently around 100 colleges were, through a process of merging and consolidation, reduced to 28 regional universities. As of August 1, 1994, Østfold Distriktshøgskole became be part of Østfold College distributed among the towns of Fredrikstad, Halden and Sarpsborg.
