The University of Akureyri is a partner in 19 out of 25 projects awarded grants from the Universities’ Cooperative Fund
This morning, Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, announced which universities’ cooperative projects have been awarded grants from the Universities’ Cooperative Fund. The University of Akureyri applied for grants to lead seven projects and for partnership in 21 projects. It was, therefore, a pleasure to learn this morning that the University of Akureyri received a grant for a total of 19 projects, three of which the University will lead. Those are:
- A preparatory course for immigrants and refugees in Iceland
The University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland will receive a total of ISK 53 million to establish a 60-credit preparatory course for immigrants and refugees in Iceland, inter alia to strengthen their skills in Icelandic and prepare them for studying in Iceland. Distance education mode will be used to ensure reliable access to the course. Professor Markus Hermann Meckl, dean NBX of the School of Social Sciences will lead this project. - Technology studies for students in North Iceland
The University of Akureyri and Reykjavík University will be awarded a total of ISK 33 million for the purpose of launching studies in industrial and energy technology for technicians in Akureyri in autumn 2023. This programme will support industries and businesses in North Iceland by providing students with the opportunity to study in their home town, cf. the full-fledged technology programme already available at the University of Reykjavík. Programme leader will be Ólafur Jónsson, project manager at the School of Business and Science - Joint master’s programme in health care nursing
The University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland will receive ISK 9 million to prepare a master’s programme in health care nursing for nurses all over Iceland, with a special emphasis on innovative uses of distance health care. Programme leader will be Sigríður Sía Jónsdóttir, associate professor at the Faculty of Nursing.
“It was a pleasure to witness the success of the University of Akureyri when the Minister announced the conclusions of the selection committee of the Cooperative Fund. For many years, the University of Akureyri has maintained close cooperation with other Icelandic and foreign universities and this result clearly indicates how well prepared the University is for this kind of cooperation, with the University of Akureyri participating in 19 out of 25 projects receiving grant awards,” says Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector of the University of Akureyri.
Out of the 16 projects in which the University of Akureyri is a partner the largest undertaking is the Development of Skills and Simulation Teaching in Icelandic health sciences in cooperation with the University of Iceland, Reykjavík University, the Landspítali University Hospital and Akureyri Hospital. The project has been awarded ISK 165 million to launch specially designed skills and simulation centres for the purpose of increasing student numbers in clinical study programmes. Simulated teaching involves using technical equipment or simulated patients to imitate real circumstances or interventions in a safe environment, under the auspices of an instructor, without endangering a patient’s health. A similar contribution has been awarded by the Ministry of Health. This is a case of the largest single award from the fund. The liaison agents of this project are Þórhalla Sigurðardóttir, adjunct at the Faculty of Nursing, Margrét Hrönn Svavarsdóttir, associate professor at the Faculty of Nursing, and Sigrún Kristín Jónasdóttir, assistant professor and head of the Faculty of Occupational Therapy.
“I hope that this fund and its new approach to financial allocation will provide Icelandic students and universities with internationally competitive study programmes, thus attracting an even larger number of students from abroad for the benefit of Iceland and its human resources. Those first steps carry a promise for the future,” is the final comment by Eyjólfur Guðmundsson
Those who are interested can access further information on the awards and projects at this website.
