[2] VID is a subsidiary of the foundation Diakonhjemmet, an independent and non-profit diaconal institution within the Lutheran state Church of Norway.

The constituting schools have traditionally been involved with missionary and diaconal activities both in Norway and abroad.

VID continues with this tradition, offering health, social work, manangement and religious formation for a national and global public.

Long associated with the Norwegian Mission Society, MHS was the first college to concentrate on the world outside Europe.

It was also the first European college open for African students (since the 1860s), and over the 19th and the first part of the 20th century, gave the opportunity for priesthood education for young people from poor classes.

The Diakonova University College was a diaconal institution owned by a foundation part of the Church of Norway, and joined VID in 2018.

The constituent institutions – especially the diaconal ones – have historical significance for the development of social work and nursing professions as well as being pioneer in female higher education in Norway.

VID offers two PhD programmes: Diakonia, Values and Professional Practice and Theology and Religion.

The collections contain objects of ethnographic and mission-historical interest from the countries where the Norwegian Missionary Mission has had activities: South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon, Mali, Ethiopia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Brazil The Diakonia Archives keeps material from the Diakonhjemmet of Sandnes, which has been transferred to Stavanger.