[3] Its establishment was supported by Tora Aasland, the Minister of Research and Higher Education, and law professor Henning Jakhelln and lawyer and Labour politician Ingjald Ørbeck Sørheim were also involved in the effort.

[2][4] Its roots date back to 1983, when Berit Ås was instrumental in founding the first Women's University (Stiftelsen Kvinneuniversitetet) in Norway.

It is not accredited by NOKUT as a university, but has permission from the Ministry of Education and Research to use the designation (which is protected by law in Norway) in its name.

[9][10] The organisation's council was established on 15 October 2011 with representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Former Swedish MP and MEP Maj Britt Theorin was elected chair of the committee on "Violence against women".