Date
Starts 7 October 2026
Ends 9 October 2026
Staff Days 7-9 October
Sustainable Partnerships and Responsible Internationalisation: Decision Making and Information Sharing
Registration closed.
Staff Days 7-9 October
Sustainable Partnerships and Responsible Internationalisation: Decision Making and Information Sharing
Registration closed.
Language
English
Location
University of Iceland - Main Campus
Contact
mobility@hi.is
The International Staff Days offer a valuable opportunity to develop both personal and professional skills related to internationalisation and higher education cooperation, while networking with colleagues from other universities.
The theme is Sustainable Partnerships and Responsible Internationalisation: Decision Making and Information Sharing. Focus will be on various factors that contribute to openness in research and cooperation, practical guidance, decision making and awareness in collaboration.
WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER
Venue: Saga, Hagatorg
12:30–17:30
Venue: Foyer of Saga
12:30–13:00 | Gathering and Registration
Venue: Saga, S-114
13:00–13:20 | Welcome and Introduction to the University of Iceland
Fridrika Hardardottir, Director of the International Division, University of Iceland
13:20–13:50 | Team-Building Activity
13:50–14:30 | Introduction to Iceland
Prof. Emeritus Gudmundur Halfdanarson, University of Iceland
14:30–15:30 | Campus Tour of the University of Iceland
The tour will end at Saga, where participants will have a short break before the Welcome Reception
Venue: Saga, S-269
16:00–17:30 | Welcome Reception
Drinks and light refreshments
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THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER
Optional Morning Activity
Venue: Vesturbæjarlaug, Hofsvallagata 107
07:30–08:30 | Early-Morning Swimming Pool Visit
Participants should arrive no later than 07:40 and bring a swimsuit and towel. After the visit, the group will walk directly to the University of Iceland for the first session. The entrance fee is €11 per person and is not included in the registration fee.
Session 1
Building and Managing Sustainable International Partnerships
Venue: Lögberg, L-101, Sæmundargata 8
09:00–12:00
Session Chair: Anita Hannesdóttir, Incoming Mobility Team Lead, University of Iceland
09:00–09:15 | Team-Building Activity
09:15–09:35 | Aurora: Navigating the Value and Vulnerabilities of a European University Alliance
Fanney Karlsdóttir, Aurora Institutional Coordinator and Team Lead, University of Iceland
09:35–09:50 | Adapting Mobility Processes to New Realities - Aurora and Beyond
Svava Berglind Finsen, Outgoing Mobility Team Lead, University of Iceland
09:50–10:10 | Discussion
10:10–10:30 | Coffee and Networking
10:30–10:45 | Case Handling Procedure for New Exchange Partnerships – The Way Forward
Martina Daller Almander
International Coordinator, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Gothenburg
10:45–11:00 | Partnership Analytics - Exploring a Data-Driven Approach to Student Exchange
Dora Persic, Exchange Officer / Dashboard Project Lead
Mobility & Internship Center, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen
11:00–11:15 | Evaluation of Erasmus+ Student Exchange Agreements at the Technical University of Munich
Helen Schoft, Program Manager, Erasmus+ Staff Mobility, TUM Global & Alumni Office, Technical University of Munich
11:15–11:30 | Existing and New Partnerships at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp
Véronique Sterkens, International Mobility Coordinator, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp
11:30–12:00 | Discussion & Summary
Session Chair
Lunch
Venue: Háma, Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata 4
12:00–13:00 | Lunch
Participants will receive a meal ticket and can choose from the day’s special, sandwiches, salad bar and other options. Stúdentakjallarinn Bar & Restaurant is also located at Háskólatorg.
Session 2
Responsible Internationalisation: Risk, Policy and Practice
Venue: Veröld, VHV-023 Auðarsalur, Brynjólfsgata 1
13:00–16:30
Session Chair: Fridrika Hardardottir, Director of the International Division, University of Iceland
13:00–14:30 | Keynote Address: International Collaboration in a Changing Environment – Research Security, Risk Assessment and Policy Choices at the University of Helsinki
Markus Laitinen, Head of Development (Research Security), University of Helsinki
14:30–15:00 | Coffee and Networking
15:00–16:20
Venue: Veröld, VHV-007, Brynjólfsgata 1
15:00–16:20 | Interactive Workshop on Drama Facilitation
Joanne Heffernan, Outgoing Erasmus Student Support, International Office, University College Cork
Evening Programme
18:00 | Dinner in Downtown Reykjavík
Venue: Forréttabarinn, Nýlendugata 14
The restaurant is within walking distance of the University of Iceland.
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FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER
Session 3
From Networks to Strategy: Organising International Cooperation
Venue: Lögberg, L-101, Sæmundargata 8
09:10–11:00
Session Chair: Alma Agustsdottir, Project Manager - Aurora and Short Mobility, University of Iceland
09:10–09:25 | European Research Networks: Supporting International Cooperation, Student Mobility and Early Career Development
Marie Ruiz, Associate Professor / Erasmus Coordinator, Anglophone Studies, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
09:25–09:40 | How Do We Translate Participation in a Large International Network into Concrete International Activities at Institutional Level?
Florina Joița, Head of the Rector’s Office / PhD Student
Ionelia Hirju, Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator Assistant, International Department
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Romania
09:40–10:00 | Discussion
10:00–10:20 | Coffee and Networking
10:20–10:35 | Centralised Administration of International Academic Networks
Gintarė Vilbikienė, Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator and Head of Academic Mobility Office, International Relations Department, Kaunas University of Technology
10:35–10:50 | From Teaching Collaboration to Comprehensive Partnership: TU Braunschweig & University of Rhode Island
Dominik Baumgarten, Officer for Recruiting & Strategic Partnerships, Research Services, Technische Universität Braunschweig
10:50–11:00 | Wrap-Up
Afternoon Programme
11:20 | Packed Lunch and prepare for departure for Afternoon Excursion
11:30–18:00 | Excursion – The Golden Circle – Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss
Markus Laitinen is currently the inaugural Research Security Officer at the University of Helsinki, with responsibilities in policy development, as well as systematisation of risk assessment and management across the institution.
He has developed an online tool for risk assessment for all types of international collaboration and oversees related compliance structures. He is an advocate of responsible internationalisation and balancing internationalisation with security concerns.
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER
9:00-12:00
Session 1
Building and Managing Sustainable International Partnerships
Venue: Lögberg, L-101, Sæmundargata 8
13:00–16:30
Session 2
Responsible Internationalisation: Risk, Policy and Practice
Venue: TBC
FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER
09:00–11:10
Session 3
From Networks to Strategy: Organising International Cooperation
Venue: Lögberg, L-104, Sæmundargata 8
Venues
The International Staff Days will take place at several locations on the University of Iceland campus. All venues are within easy walking distance of each other.
Saga
Hagatorg
Wednesday’s programme, including registration and the Welcome Reception, will take place in Saga.
Lögberg
Sæmundargata 8
Sessions on Thursday morning and Friday will take place in Lögberg.
Oddi
Sturlugata
Thursday afternoon’s programme will take place in Oddi.
Háskólatorg – University Centre
Sæmundargata 4
Lunch on Thursday will be served at Háma, located in Háskólatorg.
Optional Swimming Pool Visit
An optional early-morning visit to Vesturbæjarlaug swimming pool, Hofsvallagata 107, will take place on Thursday from 07:30–08:30.
Participants should arrive no later than 07:40 and bring a swimsuit and towel. After the visit, the group will walk directly to the University of Iceland for the first session of the day.
Meals and Refreshments
Coffee and refreshments will be provided during scheduled breaks.
For lunch on Thursday, participants will receive a meal ticket for Háma at Háskólatorg. A selection of options is available, including the day’s special, sandwiches and a salad bar.
A packed lunch will be provided on Friday before departure for the afternoon excursion.
Thursday Evening Dinner
Dinner will take place at Forréttabarinn, Nýlendugata 14, in downtown Reykjavík at 18:00 on Thursday.
The restaurant is within walking distance of the University of Iceland campus.
Friday Excursion
The afternoon excursion will depart from the University of Iceland at 11:30 on Friday and is scheduled to end at approximately 18:00.
Participants will receive a packed lunch before departure.
Further information about the excursion, including the itinerary and practical details, will be provided closer to the event.
The University of Iceland is a progressive, comprehensive educational and research institution, recognised internationally for its strong contribution to science and scholarship. It is a public university located in the heart of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, and was founded in 1911. Today, the University has approximately 13,500 students.
The University is organised into five academic schools and offers over 400 programmes at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. It places a strong emphasis on international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and providing opportunities for students and staff to engage in global academic networks.
