NR. 1630/2022
APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL 15.12.2023
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SHORTCUTS
The Institute of Police Science Research at the University of Akureyri (RLHA) is a scientific research centre that was established through a cooperation agreement between the National Commissioner of Police (RLS) and the University of Akureyri (UNAK), dated 30 December 2021. With this agreement, the Police Training and Professional Development Centre (MSL), which works within the office of the National Commissioner of Police, and UNAK wish to strengthen teaching and research in police science by increasing cooperation and making these aspects of the institutions’ work more visible. In English, the research centre is called the “Institute of Police Science Research at the University of Akureyri”.
The main role of the institute is:
In other respects, the board of the institute shapes its activities.
The RLHA board is made up of six representatives, three from the University of Akureyri and three from the Police Training and Professional Development Centre. Each institution also appoints one deputy for itself. On behalf of MSL, the director of the Police Training and Professional Development Centre, the assistant superintendent of MSL and an employee of MSL have seats on the board. The MSL employee is appointed for a period of two years. On behalf of UNAK, the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences sits on the board together with two academic staff nominated by the School Council at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences for a period of two years. The board appoints a board member as chairperson for a period of one year, with the chairpersonship rotated among the institutions. The board formulates the policy of the institute and sets regulations for the aspects of its activities as deemed necessary at any given time. The board also settles any uncertainty that may arise and concerns the internal operations of the institute.
The board of RLHA shall regularly hold special board meetings for the institute where its issues are put on the agenda. Board meetings shall be held at least twice per semester. It is mandatory to call a board meeting if two or more board members request it. In the event of a tie at such a meeting, the vote of the chairperson or the acting chairperson is decisive. The board keeps minutes where its decisions must be recorded. Minutes must be confirmed at the end of the meeting, but no later than at the following meeting.
The University of Akureyri and the Police Training and Professional Development Centre provide the institute with work facilities, such as housing and equipment, in accordance with the provisions of the cooperation agreement between the institutions.
The staff of the Police Training and Professional Development Centre, who have made an agreement with UNAK and RLHA and meet the qualification requirements for the position of university teacher, cf. Act No. 85/2008 on Public Higher Education Institutions, in the field of studies that are either taught at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNAK or related to its subjects, can apply for academic positions at RLHA. The positions are a minimum of 20% and are research positions at RLHA. Payment for work contribution is agreed upon separately with the institution where the applicant is employed. RLHA academic staff are paid separately for teaching at UNAK according to the wage rate of temporary lecturers. The board determines how many positions are allowed at RLHA at any given time. The positions are staffed for five years at a time. The Dean of School hires for positions at RLHA subject to the opinion of the UNAK Evaluation Committee, the School Council at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the RLHA board. The positions must be advertised on the intranet of the respective institutions.
The UNAK Evaluation Committee assesses the suitability of applicants for positions at RLHA according to the regulations governing recruitment to academic positions at UNAK. The Evaluation Committee determines the suitability of the candidates for the position of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor. Whoever is thus deemed qualified shall enjoy similar rights and perform similar duties as Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors as appropriate, even if the person’s primary employment is at another institution, as long as this is in accordance with the laws, regulations and collective agreements in effect regarding hiring. Regarding academic advancement, the same rules apply to these positions as regarding UNAK academic staff. In other respects, the rights and obligations are according to the applicable collective agreement of the employee in question and the regulations of the University of Akureyri.
Employees of the Police Training and Professional Development Centre with primary employment at MSL, who conduct teaching and research, are entitled to apply for an assessment of eligibility to receive academic title at RLHA in accordance with applicable UNAK rules. Acknowledgment of academic qualifications entitles the employee to carry the academic title for which they are deemed qualified in the position of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor. This also means that the employee publishes their work in the name of MSL and UNAK. In order to formalize this role, the title holder and RLHA make a formal agreement between themselves regarding participation in the work of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the academic work that the title provides. The Rector awards titles upon receiving the Evaluation Committee’s report. The academic title is granted for a period five years but is cancelled if the employee leaves MSL.
Research at RLHA belong to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Scientific articles or other results of research, such as presentations of research projects and abstracts at conferences or in the media, must be published in the name of the researcher in question and in the name of UNAK and MSL. RLHA holds an annual presentation of the research projects conducted at the institute. At the beginning of each year, those who are employed, or have an academic title at RLHA, must inform the UNAK Research Administration of their plans regarding research and give a written report on the past year’s research.
RLHA income can be:
A research fund may be operated at the institute. It is subject to regulations established by the RLHA board. The accounting for the institute shall be part of the accounting for the University of Akureyri. The board is financially responsible for RLHA and approves the operating and budgetary plan for each year before the start of the new operating year. Service research contracts require the approval of the board. In the case of service provided for money in competition with a private party, that activity shall be financially separated from the other operations of the institute in accordance with Competition Law.
Thes regulations, which were approved by the University Council on 15 December 2022, are set on the basis of Article 11 of Act No. 85/2008 on Public Higher Education Institutions. The regulations enter into force immediately.
The University of Akureyri, 15 December 2022.
Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector.