University of Iceland

The University of Iceland (Icelandic: Háskóli Íslands) is an Icelandic state university, founded in 1911. During its first year of operation 45 students were enrolled. Today, the University of Iceland serves a nation of approximately 300,000 people and provides instruction for about 9,000 students studying in eleven faculties.

History


The University of Iceland was founded on June 17 1911, uniting three former Icelandic schools Prestaskólinn, Læknaskólinn and Lagaskólinn, which taught theology, medicine and law, respectively. The university originally had only faculties for these three fields, in addition to a faculty of humanities. The first rector of the university was Björn M. Ólsen, a professor in the faculty of humanities.

For its first 29 years the University was housed in the Icelandic Parliament building, Alþingishúsið, in central Reykjavík. In 1933, the University received a special licence from Alþingi to operate a cash-prize lottery called Happdrætti Háskólans. The University Lottery, which started in 1934, remains a major source of funding for the construction of new university buildings. In 1940, the University moved into the Main Building, designed by Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The Main Building forms the core of the University Campus on Suðurgata, where most of the principal buildings of the University are located today.

In addition to the major faculties there are numerous research institutes attached to the University. With more than 400 tenured teachers, approx. 1,800 non-tenured teachers, and about 281 researchers and administrators, the University of Iceland is the largest single work-place in Iceland.

Curriculum


The University of Iceland offers studies and research in more than 60 degree programmes in the humanities, science and social sciences, and in professional fields such as theology, law, business, medicine, odontology, nursing, pharmacology and engineering. Some of the resources available at the University are uniquely Icelandic; these include the manuscripts preserved in the Árni Magnússon Institute, Icelandic census records dating from 1703, exceptionally complete genealogical data, and climatological, glaciological, seismic and geothermal records. The principal language of instruction is Icelandic. Textbooks are mainly in English and Icelandic. Most departments offer courses in English and allow foreign students to take their examinations in English.

Administration
Kristín Ingólfsdóttir is the current Rector of the University of Iceland. She took over from Páll Skúlason and is the first woman to serve as Rector.

Faculties


In addition to a re-education center, there are faculties of:


 * Business and economics
 * Engineering
 * Humanities
 * Theology
 * Law
 * Medicine
 * Natural science
 * Nursing
 * Odontology
 * Pharmacology
 * Social sciences

University Area
The University has the following buildings:


 * Aðalbygging (main building)
 * Askja
 * Árnagarður
 * Eirberg
 * Endurmenntun
 * Háskólatorg I and II
 * Lögberg
 * Læknagarður
 * Oddi
 * Tæknigarður
 * VR I, II and III
 * Háskólatorg (Currently under construction)

There is also a gymnasium, a student service center and several dormitories and research institute buildings.

Notable faculty members



 * Guðmundur Finnbogason (writer, teacher)
 * Halldór Ásgrímsson (lecturer, 1973-1975)
 * Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson (political scientist)
 * Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (political scientist, now President of Iceland)
 * Sigurður Nordal (Medieval literature scholar)
 * Sigurður Þórarinsson (geologist)
 * Þorsteinn Gylfason (philosopher)
 * Þorvaldur Gylfason (economist)
 * Þór Whitehead (historian)

Notable alumni

 * Bjarni Ármannsson (banker)
 * Ásgeir Ásgeirsson (politician)
 * Björn Bjarnason (politician)
 * Einar Pálsson (literature)
 * Einar Már Guðmundson (writer)
 * Davíð Oddsson (politician)
 * Guðmundur Finnbogason (writer, teacher)
 * Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson (businessman)
 * Kristín Steinsdóttir (writer)
 * Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir (writer)
 * Sólveig Pétursdóttir (politician)
 * Sigurjón Sighvatsson (film producer)
 * Vigdís Grímsdóttir (writer)
 * Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (politician)
 * Þórarinn Eldjárn (writer)

Student politics
There are three major parties that participate in the student politics of the University of Iceland. These are Röskva, Vaka and Háskólalistinn.