Regulations on the Stefansson Arctic Institute at the University of Akureyri

NO. 1180/2024

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL 26.9.2024

Web version last updated 20.11.2024

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Article 1. General points

The Stefansson Arctic Institute is a research and academic institution operating within the University of Akureyri. The Institute is a forum for research in Arctic studies and operates in an international scientific environment with an emphasis on interdisciplinary humanities. The Institute is a part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in consultation with the director, prepares collaboration agreements for the Institute with parties outside the University of Akureyri, which are confirmed by the Rector.

Article 2. Role

The role of the Stefansson Arctic Institute is:

  1. To acquire new knowledge in Arctic studies by, among other things, conducting research on issues concerning the well-being of residents and the sustainability of the region in relation to community development, resource utilization, adaptation to climate change, and economic development.
  2. To be a centre of excellence and a collaborative platform on Arctic issues that strengthens the community of researchers on sustainable social and economic development in the region.
  3. To work with Icelandic and foreign universities, research institutes and companies with the aim of mutual acquisition and sharing of knowledge.
  4. To strengthen teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level in Arctic studies and Polar Law at the University of Akureyri, for instance by building a fertile research environment for students in research study programs.
  5. To strengthen an Icelandic and international centre for Arctic affairs in Akureyri.
  6. To provide education, seminars, conferences and lectures on Arctic studies.

Article 3. Facilities

The University of Akureyri provides the Institute with work facilities, such as housing and equipment, to the possible extent.

Article 4. The board

The Rector of the University of Akureyri appoints five representatives to the board of the Stefansson Arctic Institute, along with three alternate representatives, for four-year terms. The Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences nominates two main representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of the staff of the Stefansson Arctic Institute, the Dean of the School of Health, Business and Natural Sciences nominates one board member and one alternate member, and the Rector appoints two board members and one alternate member without nomination, including from the Institute’s partners with whom agreements have been made, in accordance with Article 1. The board elects a chairman from among its members and otherwise divides its tasks among itself.

The board shall consist of both men and women, and care shall be taken to ensure that the ratio of each gender is not less than 40%, in accordance with Article 28 of Act No. 150/2020 on Equal Status and Rights Irrespective of Gender. For this purpose, nominating parties shall nominate both a man and a woman. The nominating party may deviate from this if there are objective reasons why this is not possible. This provision does not prevent the nomination or appointment of people with gender-neutral registration in the National Register.

Article 5. Board meetings

The director calls board meetings by email with at least three days’ notice. The meeting notice shall specify the agenda for the meeting. The chairperson chairs board meetings. It is mandatory to call a board meeting if two or more board members request it. The same applies if the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences or the Rector makes such a request, in which case they have freedom of speech and the right to make proposals at the meeting. In the event of a tied vote at a board meeting, the vote of the chairperson is decisive. The director attends board meetings with freedom of speech and the right to make proposals, but without voting rights. The board keeps minutes where its decisions are recorded. Minutes must be confirmed at the end of the meeting, but no later than a week after the meeting. Board meetings shall be held at least three times each year.

Article 6. The board’s tasks

The Institute’s board formulates research policies and priorities for the Institute and establishes operating rules as needed. The board also arbitrates in any questions that may arise and concern the internal operations of the Institute. The board makes a proposal to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences regarding the appointment of a director and the proportional division of the director’s work into administration, research, and teaching.

Article 7. Appointment and tasks of the director

The director must have received a qualification as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor in a field of study related to the Institute’s activities. The director shall normally have a doctoral degree and knowledge and experience in accordance with international standards for the relevant job title in their field of study, confirmed by the opinion of an evaluation committee.

The director is responsible for the Institute’s finances to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The director submits a research plan and operating budget for each year to the board for approval.

The director is responsible for implementing policy and for the daily operations of the Institute.

The director is responsible for cultivating the Institute’s relationships with Icelandic and foreign partners, in accordance with Article 1.

The director is responsible for the publication of the Institute’s annual report.

The Dean of the School issues a job description to the director upon receipt of a proposal from the board of the Institute, which further stipulates the director’s scope of work.

Article 8. Staff and collaborators

The staff and collaborators of the Stefansson Arctic Institute are:

  1. The director.
  2. Experts hired for independent research.
  3. University teachers who are provided with research facilities at the Institute.
  4. University-educated researchers who report to project managers in research work, grant recipients, postdoctoral fellows, and specialists.
  5. Doctoral and master’s students who are hired and provided with research facilities at the Institute.
  6. Staff who are hired for a period of less than one year.
  7. Research fellows and visiting scholars who strengthen the Institute’s human resources, research capacity, and networks.

The hiring of staff is subject to the regulations of the University of Akureyri.

Article 9. Work Duties

Experts hired for independent research and university teachers granted research positions at the Stefansson Arctic Institute enjoy academic freedom of research. The Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in consultation with the director, determines the division of duties between research, teaching, administration and other duties for the Institute’s employees, in accordance with Regulations No. 928/2018 on the Job Responsibilities of Teachers at the University of Akureyri. The division of duties shall be stated in the employment contract.

Article 10. Finance

The director is responsible for the Institute’s budget and accounts to the funders and to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The income of the Stefansson Arctic Institute comes from the following sources:

  1. A contribution from the University of Akureyri, in accordance with the decision of the University Council.
  2. Allocations and grants for individual projects.
  3. Payments for services.
  4. Other income or gifts.

The accounting of the Stefansson Arctic Institute is part of the accounting of the University of Akureyri and is subject to its rules, but must be kept separate in accounting. The budget shall be submitted to the board of the Institute and the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences for approval.

In case of the Stefansson Arctic Institute providing services in free market competition with the commercial activities of other parties, those activities shall be separated from other operations. The provisions of the Competition Act No. 44/2005 that prohibit the subsidization of competitive operations with public funds must be complied. Regulations of the University of Akureyri apply to administrative and facility fees.

Article 11. Entry into force

These regulations, which were adopted in the University Council are set on the basis of paragraph 3 of Article 11 of Act No. 85/2008 on Public Higher Education Institutions and Article 26 of Regulations No. 694/2022 for the University of Akureyri, enter into force on 1 January 2025. These regulations shall be reviewed within three years of their entry into force.

 

The University of Akureyri, 26 September 2024.

Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir, Rector.