University of Akureyri
Encyclopedia
The University of Akureyri (Háskólinn á Akureyri) is a young institution, founded on September 5, 1987 in the city of Akureyri
in the north part of Iceland
. It has grown since then, especially in the last few years as more facilities have been established. 1,382 students attended the university in the autumn semester of 2007, around 450 of them doing so through distance education
, making the university the largest provider of distance education in the country. Also, the enrollment at the University of Akureyri makes up 9% of the entire university enrollment in Iceland.
* On 1 August, 2008, the faculty of law and social science has been merged with the faculty of education to form a faculty of humanities and social sciences (Hug- og Félagsvísindadeild). However, in this merger will be in the semester 2008-9 only merg in the name.
Staff members are encouraged to publish their research. Three books are out that are written by staff members. They are Andas Arfur (Educational Heritage), Lexia (Dyslexia), and Leitin Lifandi (Will to Know).
Students can come as guest students. This occurs when a student attends the university for a short period of time, but there is no formal co-operation between universities. Not only do students travel, but so do teachers. Through the Erasmus program, teachers have traveled to co-operating universities and given lectures. This exchange of teachers has taken place in many countries including: the United Kingdom, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, and France.
, a international graduate school located in Akureyri. The school is a higher education institution offering a one-year M.Sc. in various renewable energy technologies. All instructions and correspondence are in English.
Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality ....
in the north part of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It has grown since then, especially in the last few years as more facilities have been established. 1,382 students attended the university in the autumn semester of 2007, around 450 of them doing so through distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
, making the university the largest provider of distance education in the country. Also, the enrollment at the University of Akureyri makes up 9% of the entire university enrollment in Iceland.
History
In 1988, the library was officially added to the school. Two months after the library was added, the Student Center opened. The first class to graduate graduated in 1989, and consisted of 10 industrial management students. On January 4, 1990, the Faculty of Fisheries was established. The first master's degree students graduated February 26, 2000. These students pursued a master's degree in nursing. A new chancellor took over from Þorsteinn Gunnarsson in the 1.st of July 2009. His name is Stefán B. Sigurðsson.Faculties
Since autumn 2006, the university has the following faculties:- Faculty of LawLawLaw is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and Social SciencesSocial sciencesSocial science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
(Félagsvísinda- og lagadeild)* - Faculty of Health Sciences (Heilbrigðisdeild)
- Faculty of EducationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
(Kennaradeild)* - Faculty of BusinessBusinessA business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and Natural ScienceNatural scienceThe natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
(Viðskipta- og raunvísindadeild)
Future Vision
The University of Akureyri has five goals they would like to accomplish between 2007 and 2011.A Challenging and Personal Study Environment
The university would like for 70% of its students to graduate in 5 years. Also, the university plans to have 80% of the students satisfied with their education by 2011.Vigorous Research Activities
To accomplish this goal, the university plans to have, by 2011, 60% of its teachers will have a doctoral degree. It also plans to have 150 students involved in research-related postgraduate study. By 2011, the University of Akureyri plans to have 50% of its budget devoted to research.Activate Contacts With the Community
The university believes that a university should share its research with the community. They plan to take into account the knowledge needs of the community, and wish to provide a mutual share of research between the themselves and the community.International Cooperation and Recognition
By the end of 2011, the University of Akureyri plans to triple the number of international cooperative projects that it is involved in. Also, it plans to teach at least three postgraduate programs in English.An Official Organizational Unit
The university plans to increase its enrollment to 2000 students and to be more financially independent by the end of 2011.Research
Most research is done by academic members of the staff in the university's Research and Development Center. In addition, there are four other research institutes:- University of Akureyri Food Centre
- The Icelandic Tourism Research Centre
- The Institute of Health Science Research, University of Akureyri
- School Development Centre of UNAK's Faculty of Education
Staff members are encouraged to publish their research. Three books are out that are written by staff members. They are Andas Arfur (Educational Heritage), Lexia (Dyslexia), and Leitin Lifandi (Will to Know).
International Students
Each year the school receives more exchange students. These students come through one of four exchange programs:- Nordplus
- Erasmus
- North2North
- Bilateral agreement between universities
Students can come as guest students. This occurs when a student attends the university for a short period of time, but there is no formal co-operation between universities. Not only do students travel, but so do teachers. Through the Erasmus program, teachers have traveled to co-operating universities and given lectures. This exchange of teachers has taken place in many countries including: the United Kingdom, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, and France.
RES - The School for Renewable Energy Science
University of Akureyri and University of Iceland is cooperating with RES - The School for Renewable Energy ScienceRES - The School for Renewable Energy Science
RES - The School for Renewable Energy Science is a private, non-profit, international graduate school located in the city of Akureyri in northern Iceland and shares its facilities with the University of Akureyri....
, a international graduate school located in Akureyri. The school is a higher education institution offering a one-year M.Sc. in various renewable energy technologies. All instructions and correspondence are in English.
External links
- Official Website (in Icelandic and English)