President Eric Kaler will lead a 10-person University of Minnesota delegation to Norway starting Thursday, in what's billed as a trip to "strengthen and expand relationships" with four Norwegian universities and other partners.

It's the second time Kaler has led an "international delegation" since becoming president in 2011, according to the U. The first was a trip to China last July.

University officials didn't immediately say how much the weeklong trip to Norway will cost. But it did say that Kaler would be accompanied by his wife, Karen, and speechwriter, Jay Weiner, and that the expenses for those three would be covered by the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Meanwhile, the university itself will pick up the tab for the other seven delegates, including three college deans, one associate vice president, one professor, the chief of staff of global programs and the former dean of biological sciences, Bob Elde, who the university says was instrumental in forging the U's partnerships in Norway.

The group plans stops in Oslo and two other cities, and will meet with partners in a research collaborative that includes the University of Oslo and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. According to a news release Wednesday, the U is working with those institutions on "cutting-edge transatlantic research in renewable energy, environment and sustainability, climate change" and other fields.

Kaler also plans to visit members of Norway's Parliament as well as "connect with the U's Norwegian alumni and current students studying in Norway," according to the news release. The group will be in Norway from Aug. 21-27.