Sixty-four doctoral candidates, whose doctoral defence took place at the University of Iceland from 1 December 2015 to 1 December 2016, received the University’s gold medal at the Ceremony for graduated Doctors. This is the fifth time a ceremony of this kind takes place; a tradition launched on the University of Iceland centennial in 2011. The president of Iceland Mr. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and Illugi Gunnarsson, Minister of Education, Science and Culture were present at the ceremony.
The ceremony reflects the emphasis placed on strengthening graduate studies in recent years and the important research carried out by PhD students. Their contribution in collaboration with their supervisors is important on a global scale and strengthens the University as an international research institute. This is reflected by the number of publications in world renowned scientific journals and in the University’s place on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Strengthening doctoral studies has been an intregate part of the University of Iceland's policy for over a decade and in the current strategy measures are taken for further advancements. Just as the former policy the new one for 2016-2021 aims for 70 doctoral defences annually, which is comparable to neighbouring countries. A fun fact that when 2016 comes to an end 70 doctoral candidates will have graduated. This is the second highest number of doctors that have graduated from the University of Iceland in one year with this most distinguished academic title. The number of doctorates that have graduated from the University's foundation now counts almost 600 people.
The doctoral graduates that received their gold medal have graduated from all of the University’s five schools; 24 men and 42 women. Nine completed a joint degree from the University of Iceland and a foreign university. Over one third of the graduates were international students from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.
The president of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson addressed the doctoral graduates for the first time, but he was a Professor at the University of Iceland before taking office. Furthermore, one of the doctoral candidates, Sunna Gestdóttir PhD in education studies, addressed the ceremony on behalf of the post docs.
The University is extremely proud of this group of doctoral graduates and sincerely congratulates them on their PhD degrees and wishes them well in the future in all their endeavours.
