The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri awards His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson an honorary doctorate in the field of social sciences.
On the occasion of the honorary award, a symposium entitled “Universities, democracy and the Arctic Regions” will be held at the University of Akureyri from 10:00 to 15:00. Following the symposium, a Celebration will be held in the University’s Festival Hall at 15:45 where the title of Doctor Honoris Causa will be conferred on His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
Symposium Director: Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector of the University of Akureyri
Agenda
10:00 Sentence speech - Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland
10:20 Icelandic political science - an overview - Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, professor emeritus at the University of Iceland
10:45 The importance of the constitution in a democratic society - Ragnheiður E Þorsteinsdóttir, lecturer at the University of Akureyri
11:10 The democratic role of universities - Guðrún Geirsdóttir, associate professor at the University of Iceland
11:35 Panel discussion - Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, Ragnheiður E Þorsteinsdóttir and Guðrún Geirsdóttir
12:00–12:40 Lunch break – Catering in the city centre
12:40 The academic community and Northern Trails - Þorsteinn Gunnarsson former rector of the University of Akureyri
13:05 Iceland and Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic: Communication and Policy - Rachael Lorna Johnstone, professor at the University of Akureyri and the University of Nuuk, Greenland
13:30 Changed worldview and Northern Trails - Albert Jónsson, former ambassador
13:55 Panel discussion - Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, Albert Jónsson and Rachael Lorna Johnstone
14:25 Summary and end of conference
14:25–15:00 Coffee and refreshments in Miðborg
THE SYMPOSIUM IS OPEN TO ALL FREE OF CHARGE