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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1910
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Introduction to higher education%
of
ag
e g
rou
p (
avg.
20- 2
4 y
ears
ol d
)
Prediction:# of studentsfuture trend
year
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
% o
f G
NP
0102030405060708090100
1960 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 2000
%
0
1
2
3
4
5
%
1985 90 95 2000
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