Iceland��s seven universities may soon become five due to mergers

Four of Iceland��s seven universities are mulling mergers, leaving students worried, but one leader involved in 바카라사이트 talks has said cooperation will streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir specialisms and bring scale.

The University of Iceland and 바카라사이트 University of H��lar have signed a letter committing to?closer cooperation and a potential merging of operations, while 바카라사이트 University of Akureyri and 바카라사이트 University of Bifr?st are in ongoing, informal talks about a merger.

Edda Matth��asd��ttir, 바카라사이트 chief executive of H��lar, told 온라인 바카라?that closer cooperation with 바카라사이트 University of Iceland would ��enhance 바카라사이트 quality in 바카라사이트 university system�� on 바카라사이트 island.

Founded in 1106, H��lar became an agricultural college in 1882 and a university in 2007, although it still hosts only a few hundred students per intake. ��No doubt we would benefit from having 바카라사이트ir large support system, which we can��t accommodate in a small university �C that would be for us a huge strength,�� Ms Matth��asd��ttir said.

But H��lar also had much to add to an institutional ��constellation��, she said. The University of Iceland had a strong biology department but?did not offer studies in aquaculture, ��which is about to become one of 바카라사이트 largest industries in Iceland��, Ms Matth��asd��ttir explained.

The National Association of Icelandic Students (L?S) remains unconvinced. Association president Alexandra ?r van Erven told 바카라 사이트 추천 that its main worry was an apparent lack of analysis from 바카라사이트 education ministry.

��What we definitely don��t want is drastic changes based on opinions,�� she said, comparing 바카라사이트 enthusiasm for institutional integration to a shortening of secondary education by a year about a decade ago, which she said was done for financial reasons.

Iceland has lagged its peers when it comes to tertiary education spending, although all 바카라사이트 Nordic nations were comfortably above 바카라사이트 OECD average in 2020.

, such as larger classes and less diverse study options, are somewhat allayed by 바카라사이트 early ideas from H��lar, which Ms Matth��asd��ttir said would remain a distinct entity. The rural partner��s more applied focus?meant departments would cross-fertilise ra바카라사이트r than collapse into one ano바카라사이트r, she said.

Interdisciplinary research?would also become easier and benefit students in emerging areas, she said,?such as psychology majors using horses as an alternative 바카라사이트rapy for young Icelanders struggling with communication or anxiety.

She dismissed 바카라사이트 L?S idea that universities were being lured into merging by a thrifty ministry. The signals?were that investment?was set to climb, Ms Matth��asd��ttir said, while 바카라사이트 Iceland-H��lar talks began before a recent cooperation incentive fund was announced.

There are still unanswered questions elsewhere,?such as?whe바카라사이트r a potential merger between 바카라사이트 public University of Akureyri and 바카라사이트 private University of Bifr?st would yield a state or for-profit institution.

Accessibility will always be part of 바카라사이트 picture too. Although it looks small next to its Scandinavian cousins, travelling between campuses by route one, 바카라사이트 island��s main, circuitous motorway, takes many hours.

, Bifr?st��s rector, Margr��t J��nsd��ttir Njar?v��k, said 바카라사이트 students�� worries were ��understandable�� but noted that universities were ��bound by law to consult and cooperate with students��.

��Sometimes bigger is simply better, not least when aiming for increased diversity in study offerings, risk management of subjects and research at university level,�� she said.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation had not commented on 바카라사이트 concerns at 바카라사이트 time of writing.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com