Higher Education in Iceland

and

Future OpportunitiesGuðfinna S. Bjarnadóttir, Ph.D.

Rector, Reykjavík University www.ru.is

September 3rd 2001

Outline

Brief introduction to higher education

Universities in Iceland

Reykjavík University

Entrepreneurship

Technology

Globalization

Future opportunities

Students and statistics in higher education

# years in school 17.7 years avg. (OECD 16.4 years)

# of students 12.000 in Iceland & 2.000+ abroad

Age when enter 20+ years old (avg. 1. year students)

Globalization 20% study abroad (OECD 4.3%)

Introduction to higher education

Jón Torfi Jónasson, OECD Education at a Glance

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Prediction:# of studentsfuture trend

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Icelandic students (actual)

Best prediction (top at 500%)

Universities in Iceland

University of Iceland 7000

University of Akureyri 950

Icelandic University of Education 1800

Bifröst School of Business 207

Icelandic College of Engineering and Technology 750

Icelandic University of Arts 230

Hvanneyri Agricultural University 35

Reykjavík University 950

# of students

Reykjavík University (RU)

Est. 1998, 3 departments, 956 students

Chartered by the Chamber of Commerce, mission: Increase competitiveness of businesses

Guiding principles: Entrepreneurship Technology development Globalization

Goals: Help students… to become both analytical and practitioners to become strong characters

Problem-based-learning approach

Entrepreneurship

One of RU´s guiding principles Is a 1. year course in the School of Business RU is both entrepreneurial and dynamic in daily activities RU and some major companies in Iceland run an annual open

competition to promote entrepreneurship

19% of Icelanders age 18-75 are entrepreneurs (*)8.4% USA (highest in GEM, 1999) and 1.4% in Finland (lowest)36% of economic growth explained by entrepreneurial activities

(*) Participated in entrepreneurial activities - as defined by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM),Umhverfi til nýsköpunar á Íslandi, Samtök atvinnulífsins, Deloitte & Touche & Nýsköpunarsjóður 2001

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), 1999

Technology Development

One of RU´s guiding principles School of Computer Science – teaching and research work Distance learning All courses at RU have home-pages Electronic library

80% of Icelanders age 16-75 have internet access (PWC, 2000) Rated #3 of 59 countries (World Economic Forum, 2000)

5 hrs average time spent per week on the internet (PWC, 2000) Rated #3 in number of servers in use (WEF, 2000)

5 times more high-tech export in 2000 than in 1985 (growth)

Export High-tech export

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NP

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Globalization

One of RU´s guiding principles RU´s MBA emphasizes Global e-Management RU benchmarks best practices globally Examples of international partnership at RU:

University Consortium (UNICON) Management Center Europe (MCE) Faculty and student exchange

20% of Icelandic students in higher education study abroad- many turn back and become university teachers/professors

Joint declaration of the European Ministers of Education (1999)

United Nations University- Geothermal training program- Fisheries training program

Various programs at the University of Iceland

RU´s MBA program in co-operation with:

Increase Emphasis on Education in Iceland

Increase Access to Knowledge

Increase co-operation with Universities/Companies Abroad Global Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge expertise/service/products Programs Courses

Provide Distance Learning Courses Globally

Export International Executive Education

Future opportunities