Rúnar Gunnarsson is the Director of International Office. He will give you a warm welcome and answer any enquiries you may have.
Collaboration
We are convinced that having an open university that has close collaborations with the surrounding society is something that is good for everyone. Therefore, we are very happy to collaborate with different companies and organisations. Experience has taught us that these meetings create great value; on a personal level, for your organisation, and for all students and researchers at University of Akureyri.
You can collaborate with our researchers, teachers and students, either through projects, degree projects and skills development.
Network of Public Universities in Iceland
Collaboration among the public higher education institutions in Iceland began formally in August 2010.
The objectives are, firstly, to strengthen the Icelandic universities in teaching and research; secondly, to increase efficiency in managing the universities; and thirdly, to ensure that university studies are offered across the country.
The partners to the project are the following:
- University of Akureyri
- University of Iceland
- Hólar University College
- Agricultural University of Iceland
Rectors’ Conference of Higher Education Institutions
The Rectors’ Conference of Higher Education Institutions has operated since 1990 and currently works according to Article 26 of the Higher Education Institution Act no. 63/2006.
The Conference consists of the Rectors of universities that have received accreditation from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. The Conference regularly convenes to discuss various topics relating to the operations and interests of the universities and provides opinions on matters that the Minister of Education, Science and Culture or individual universities refer to the Conference. Furthermore, the Conference nominates representatives for various committees and councils.
The Rectors’ Conference of Higher Education Institutions is thus a forum for consultation and collaboration of the universities on their joint issues, such as quality considerations, mutual recognition of studies, library matters, admission requirements for universities, etc. The Conference is a party to the Association of Nordic University Rectors Conferences (NUS) and the European University Association (EUA).
University Centre of the Westfjords
In a memorandum of understanding, the University of Akureyri (UNAK) states that it will house the study programme of the University Centre of the Westfjords in Coastal and Marine Management. This means that students in Coastal and Marine Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords will be formally enrolled at UNAK and will graduate with a degree from the University but their studies will be entirely conducted at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður and will be wholly supervised by the University Centre of the Westfjords. UNAK ensures that the quality of the study programme will be managed and recognises the programme as fully-fledged Master’s studies.
Social responsibility
The strategy of the University of Akureyri for 2018-2023 states that the University of Akureyri is exemplary in the Icelandic and international community. The University has an active environmental strategy, behaves responsibly in all business dealings, has transparent administration and a responsible scientific position regarding the most prominent challenges facing the world at any given time. The University places an emphasis on good relations with the community through an effective conversation with the public, industry and government institutions. The University is furthermore an active participant in the international academic community and therefore encourages its staff to take part in public debates with an emphasis on scientific arguments.
