Skip to main content
Forsíða
Forsíða

The Final Report for the Nordic Welfare Watch Published

11/12/2017 - 20:45

The Nordic Welfare Watch Final report has been published. The report is part of the TemaNord series which is dedicated to the result of work groups or projects under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Welfare Watch was a leadership three year programme during the Icelandic presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers that began in 2014. The goal of the programme was to find better ways to measure and monitor citizens' welfare, explore the effect of financial crisis and its side effects on the Nordic welfare societies, and to examine how well municipal social services were implemented in the Emergency Management systems. Comprehensive reports have been published for the programme and the final report addresses the main results. Furthermore, the report discusses a Nordic Welfare Forum and plans to publish a set of Nordic Welfare Indicators (NOVI). The programme consisted of three separate main projects:

Staff acknowledgements

Acknowledgements awarded to University of Iceland staff for commendable achievements in their work.

Rules on awarding acknowledgement to University of Iceland staff for commendable achievements in their work were approved by the University Council 19 September 2002.

At the beginning of each academic year, the University of Iceland awards three members of staff with acknowledgements for commendable achievements in their work. The premise for the acknowledgement is excellence in teaching, research, management or other work for the benefit of the university.

Can Iceland become carbon free?

Observers of the United Nations conference on climate change in late 2015 will realise that the human race faces a great challenge in climate issues – a challenge that demands extensive cooperation between nations, communities, and scientists. Within the University of Iceland groups of scientists and students have in the last few years worked on projects with colleagues around the world aimed at finding new ways to react to climate change. One of them is NORD-STAR, (Nordic strategic adaptation research to climate change).

Outdoor surroundings increase diversity in teaching

The discussion that children all over the world currently spend less and less time playing outdoors and concern that this causes them to miss out on certain opportunities for learning and growth was the motivation for Kristín Norðdahl's doctoral thesis, completed in 2015. Kristín is currently an Associate Lecturer in Biology and Science Education at the UI School of Education. "I found it interesting to study how different parties regard the role of outdoor surroundings in children's education in Iceland. Is outdoor environment considered an important study environment and if so, why?" says Kristín on her research goals.  

Increased satisfaction among International Students

14/10/2016 - 08:30

The University of Iceland receives its fourth acknowledgement from the StudyPortals Association for the year 2016. The association measures student satisfaction whilst studying abroad. The University of Iceland received the grade 9.5+; the highest grade being 10. International students gave the University grade 9+ last year, so contentment is increasing.

The highest satisfaction was among students in Norway, Ireland and Poland. Universities in Scandinavia have received high scores in recent years as well as Ireland, but Poland is new on the list.

Interactive Icelandic Saga Map won the Applied Science Prize

26/11/2015 - 09:30

A digital map, showing all the places that occur in the Icelandic Sagas, won this year’s UI Applied Science Prize. Two other projects were rewarded; one on the development of cultivating algae that can be used to produce anti-oxidants, and the other on the development of a support- and treatment service for parents who struggle with difficult feelings due to changes connected with having children. The prize money was in total 3.5 million ISK, or double the amount last year. 

This was the 17th time that the prize was presented. The aim of the prize is to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship within the University by developing ideas and research findings for the benefit of Icelandic society. A total of 12 ideas were entered into the competition and prizes were awarded for the top three places. Original and practical ideas were sought from both students and academic staff within the University of Iceland early this autumn.

Review of the quality of education at the University of Iceland

12/05/2015 - 10:45

The Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education, comprised of six foreign experts operating under the Ministry of Education and Culture, has completed an extensive review of the quality of studies at the University of Iceland. The review is part of the Board‘s regular observations on the quality of Icelandic universities, focusing on students, educational facilities and degrees. The University of Iceland is the sixth university to undergo such a review.

Ash cloud study clears way for better flight safety forecasts

19/05/2015 - 10:15

Predictions of where planes can safely fly following volcanic eruptions could be improved, thanks to fresh discoveries about ash clouds. British and Icelandic scientists have studied ash grains recovered from recent and previous Icelandic eruptions to compare satellite-based measurements of ash clouds with ash deposits on the ground. The results were published in the latest issue of the science journal Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 

The findings will help improve methods of mapping ash concentration, in order to identify zones where it is safe to fly, during future eruptions. Hundreds of flights were cancelled in 2010 and 2011 following volcanic activity in Iceland, because of the danger that volcanic ash posed to aircraft and their engines.

Intends to increase the value of the catch

Fish is one of the most valuable export products in Iceland it is thus important to use the material carefully and ensure its quality. Sæmundur Elíasson is currently working on a project that is meant to increase the quality of the fish caught by small fishing vessels, and thereby increase its value. The project is to designing a new ice crushing machine that is convenient for small vessels, but Elíasson intends to use this project as part of his doctoral studies at the University of Iceland.

“By faster cooling after fishing  the time before rigor mortis in the fish begins is prolonged, which has a positive effect on the quality of the flesh. Furthermore, the preservation quality increases with lower temperatures,” says Elíasson.

Pages