University of Akureyri

Infobox University
name = Háskólinn á Akureyri

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established = September 5, 1987
nickname = HA
chancellor = Þorsteinn Gunnarsson
city = Akureyri
country = Iceland
students = ca. 1,400 (August 2007)
postgrad = ca. 300 (August 2007)
undergrad = ca. 1,100 (August 2007)
staff = ca. 300
type = Public
website = http://www.unak.is/

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 attend the university in the autumn semester 2007, around 450 of the in distance education, making the university the largest offerer 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.

Faculties

Since autumn 2006 the university has the following faculties:

*Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (Félagsvísinda- og lagadeild)*
*Faculty of Health Sciences (Heilbrigðisdeild)
*Faculty of Education (Kennaradeild)*
*Faculty of Business and Natural Science (Viðskipta- og raunvísindadeild)

* 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.

Future Vison

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 EducationStaff 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).

Foreign Relations

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 universitiesStudents 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.

Language

Most courses at the University of Akureyri are taught in Icelandic. The only major taught in English is a BSc of Computer Science. Also, there are no master's degrees taught in English. Although there is only one major taught in English, many faculties have textbooks and classes available in English, as well as Icelandic.

ee also

*RES - The School for Renewable Energy Science

External links

* [http://www.unak.is/ Official Website] (in Icelandic and English)