The rectors of the University of Iceland (UI) and Hólar University (HU) and the Minister of Higher Education have signed an agreement stating that the two universities will unite to form a consortium. The consortium will be formally established on 1 January next year and is intended to boost the competitiveness of the two universities, enhance the quality of study programmes, research and support services, and to strengthen links with industries and communities across Iceland. The universities will henceforth both operate under the name of the University of Iceland.
Logi Einarsson, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of UI, and Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, Rector of HU, signed the agreement in the Saga building at UI on 25 April.
As stated in the agreement, the consortium is intended to strengthen UI as the leading Icelandic university and HU, which will become the University of Iceland at Hólar, as a specialised regional university.
“We are a small nation, but with greater unity and a clearer vision for the future, we can create a world-class higher education sector, with a focus on academic breadth, services to the community and research,” said Logi Einarsson, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. “This consortium presents a unique opportunity to strengthen higher education outside the capital area, which is key to ensuring equal access to higher education, strengthening local communities and promoting innovation across the entire country.”
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, agreed with the Minister. “This is a huge step that will strengthen not only both universities but also the entire higher education sector in Iceland. In particular, integrating operations will make Icelandic universities more competitive internationally. This initial step will promote a wider range of study programmes, subject development and research with a focus on the needs of industry and society,” said Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland.
The agreement also aims to integrate degree programmes, expand services for students and teaching staff, improve teaching methods and increase research collaboration.
“University consortia are common in other countries, often for the exact purpose of improving higher education provision across a country and particularly in rural areas. Establishment of the University of Iceland Consortium is therefore one of the most important regional development projects in Iceland today,” said Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, rector of Hólar University. She argued that the consortium would increase opportunities for innovation in close collaboration with thriving industries in North West Iceland and across regional Iceland as a whole.
Plans to expand the consortium
The two universities and the government agree that establishing a university consortium is an excellent way to unite and strengthen the Icelandic higher education system. The agreement aims to ensure that the consortium becomes an attractive option for more universities and research centres. The goal is to eventually admit more members in order to strengthen the consortium as well as the entire Icelandic higher education sector.
Each member of the consortium will remain independent. There will also be a focus on development of the infrastructure we need in the face of growing international competition for funding, students and human resources.
Governance of the consortium will be based on the organisational structure of UI. The consortium will be led by one rector and one university council, but a Consortium Council will be appointed to make important decisions concerning collaboration between the member universities. The current rector of Hólar University will become Dean of the University of Iceland at Hólar.
The consortium will operate under a single ID number (kennitala) and budgetary number as of 1 January 2026. From that data, all staff and students at the member universities will belong to the consortium.
Consortium will operate across Iceland
It is important now to prepare the legal changes required to establish a university consortium. The UI Consortium will operate under shared governance with shared support services across the country, with its main facilities in Reykjavík and Skagafjörður. With regard to recruitment, e.g. for management and support service positions within the consortium, efforts will be made to increase the number of jobs based in Skagafjörður. Facilities at Hólar will be improved, including buildings for teaching and research in aquaculture and fish biology and equine science. Infrastructure and research facilities will also be developed in Sauðárkrókur. The UI Institute of Research Centres will move its headquarters to Skagafjörður. These headquarters coordinate the work of UI research centres across Iceland, employing dozens of scientists and funding research conducted in close partnership with local communities and industries.