NR. 1631/2022
APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL 15.12.2022
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SHORTCUTS:
The aim of granting an academic title is to strengthen and deepen the cooperation between the Police Training and Professional Development Centre (MSL), and depending on circumstances, other law enforcement agencies in the country, and the University of Akureyri (UNAK) in the field of research and teaching by giving university-educated MSL staff the opportunity to carry out academic projects in collaboration with UNAK, according to an agreement between the title holder and the Institute of Police Science Research at the University of Akureyri (RLHA), which can contribute to increased research activity for the benefit of the University and the police and the publication of scientific results in the name of UNAK and MSL.
MSL’s university-educated staff, with primary employment at MSL, may apply for recognition by UNAK of their academic qualifications, cf. Article 3, provided that they are not already employed by UNAK for the position of university teacher or specialist where evaluation of qualifications is required. The Rector at UNAK grants academic titles at RLHA based on the proposal of the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the opinion of the UNAK Evaluation Committee. The academic title is granted for a period five years but is cancelled if the employee leaves MSL or ceases to have primary employment there.
Acknowledgment of academic qualifications provides an academic title as prescribed in these regulations. An academic title will not be equated to employment as a university teacher or specialist at UNAK, cf. Article 17 of Act No. 85/2008 on Public Higher Education Institutions and Article 6 of the cooperation agreement between the National Commissioner of Police and the University of Akureyri. The title does not grant other rights than those stipulated in these regulations and the cooperation agreement between UNAK and the National Commissioner of Police (RLS) from December 30, 2021.
Those employed at UNAK who have received evaluation of qualifications cannot apply for recognition of their academic qualifications in accordance with these regulations.
An academic title is awarded in conjunction with RLHA. The academic title is awarded based on the assessment of the Evaluation Committee at UNAK and a proposal to the Rector from the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences following the Evaluation Committee Report. MSL’s university-educated staff, who have gained recognition of their academic qualifications and are considered to unequivocally fulfil the conditions for holding the position of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, may use the title in question.
Employees of law enforcement agencies, other than MSL, may be granted academic titles, cf. Paragraph 1, as long as it is provided for in UNAK’s cooperation agreement with RLS.
The School Council of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and UNAK regularly announce that it is possible to apply for an academic title. The announcements must state that applications are received at the Rector´s Office at UNAK and the rules applying to their processing, i.a. that applicants must describe collaboration or planned collaboration with UNAK and, depending on circumstances, with other universities, specify partners, collaborative projects and their main goals. The application must meet the conditions that are in force at any time regarding applications for vacancies and academic advancement, cf. regulations no. 258/2016 on the work of the Evaluation Committee and the appointment of academic staff at the University of Akureyri and regulations no. 1010/2016 on the academic advancement and tenure of academic staff at the University of Akureyri.
The Rector’s Office entrusts Research Administration at UNAK with processing applications and communicating with applicants and the Evaluation Committee. The Research Administration verifies whether the applicant fulfils the conditions according to these regulations. If has been concluded that the applicant does not meet the academic eligibility requirements, the Rector is authorized to reject the application. Otherwise, Research Administration refers the application to the Evaluation Committee.
Regarding the evaluation of the applicants’ qualifications and the proceedings of the Evaluation Committee and Research Administration at UNAK in other respects, the following apply as appropriate:
When the Evaluation Committee has submitted its report, the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences shall make a proposal to the Rector on whether to issue a recognition of the applicant’s qualifications and which academic title should be awarded. In all cases, the proposal must be accompanied by a draft of an agreement between the applicant and the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in consultation with the RLHA board, which states the goals of the collaboration and the rights and obligations that may apply, cf. Articles 1 and 5 of these regulations.
Recognition of academic qualifications is valid for five years from the granting of a title, but is cancelled if the person resigns from MSL, does not hold primary employment there, or if the title holder accepts an academic position at UNAK. The same applies to other title holders at other law enforcement agencies with which UNAK has entered into a cooperation agreement. The title recipient can request an extension of the title every five years with the confirmation of Research Administration that a report and a performance report have been submitted annually in accordance with Article 5 along with a renewed contract between the applicant and the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in consultation with the RLHA board. Applications for promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or Associate Professor to Professor must be processed in the same way as a new application.
Once the Rector’s recognition of the applicant’s academic qualifications is in place, the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, after consultation with the School Council, concludes an agreement with the MSL staff in question on the academic rights and obligations that come with the title, such as participation in teaching and research. This agreement must state which projects are to be carried out, who are the partners and what the goals are for the collaboration, that the publication of scientific articles is in the name of the employee in question as well as both institutions and, depending on circumstances, other issues, such as information about teaching, project management, facilities and access to data and devices. Among other things, the title holder is obliged to submit an annual report on their work together with a Performance report before February 1 to Research Administration at the University of Akureyri.
The agreement is in effect for a period of five years and follows the title that has been granted. In December of each year, Research Administration shall inform RLHA and the University Council who has been awarded an academic title in the past year and the results of the collaboration.
An academic title does not include the right to apply for donations from UNAK’s science funds as the main applicant, but title holders can be co-applicants in such an application. A faculty within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences can authorize grants from special funds in the custody of the faculty according to the charter of the fund in question. Regarding the right to attend meetings and other such matters, refer to regulations no. 821/2022 on the Organisational Structure of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri.
These regulations, which were approved by the University Council on 15 December 2022, are set in accordance with Act No. 85/2008 on Public Higher Education Institutions, and a cooperation agreement, dated 30. December 2021, between UNAK and the National Commissioner of Police (RLS). These regulations enter into force immediately and shall be revised before the end of 2023 in consultation with the School Council the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The University of Akureyri, 15 December 2022.
Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector.