The University of Iceland has graduated over 80 doctoral candidates in the past 12 months, and they were celebrated at the annual Ceremony for Doctoral Graduates today on 1 December, the Day of Icelandic Sovereignty. This was the twelfth time the ceremony was held, and Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation was present and addressed the ceremony.
The 83 doctoral candidates, who received the University's gold medal at the ceremony today, all graduated from the University of Iceland from 1 December 2022 to 1 December 2023. They graduated from all of the University’s five schools; 34 men and 49 women. Joint degrees with international universities are two, and this year a candidate completed their PhD jointly from two University Schools. Thirty seven percent of the candidates have a foreign nationality. The number of doctorates awarded at the University of Iceland are now over a thousand, as the milestone of a thousand PhDs was reached last year.
Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, gave a talk where she congratulated the doctoral candidates on their important achievement. Furthermore, Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, and Darri Eyþórsson, doctor in environmental engineering, addressed the ceremony. Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir, pro-rector for science, presided over the ceremony.
In his address, Darri pointed out that the time during his PhD studies had brought the biggest challenges in his life but also the biggest triumphs. "I learned so much. I had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest minds in my field. I got to spend a year studying at the University of Washington in Seattle, a period of great inspiration. I had the chance to attend academic workshops and conferences at the highest level and to present my research to assemblies of respected peers. I got to climb the shoulders of giants, while teaching future generations of scientist and thinkers. I became a better scientist, a better engineer, a better thinker, a better writer, a better teacher.
Around 70 doctorates annually in the last decade
It is emblematic of the growth of doctoral studies at UI in the 21st century that in 2001 four doctorates were completed, but in the past decade they have been around 70 annually.
PhD programmes at UI are in high demand, from both domestic and international students, and thesis projects are often completed in collaboration with international partners. Doctoral studies also enable the University to fulfil its role as the largest and most comprehensive university in Iceland, an institution that graduates students at all levels of study from five schools and 26 faculties. This is very important as research and solid and diverse education are usually considered the foundation of economic growth and prosperity," say Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland, and Ingibjörg Gunnarsson, pro-rector for science in their address in the booklet published on this occasion. The booklet includes an overview of all graduated doctors from 01 December 2022 to 01 December 2023 with various tidbits on the development of doctoral studies at the University.
The University of Iceland is particularly proud of this accomplished group; who have already found their places in a broad range of roles throughout society, and indeed throughout the world.