Yvonne Höller

The University of Akureyri (UNAK) was founded in 1987. UNAK is a higher education institution with about 200 employees and about 2500 students. As a public institution, its aims are non-for profit and the main activities lie in teaching and research. It is organized into the school of Humanities and Social Sciences and the school of Health, Business and Natural Sciences, where the respective Faculties offer study lines on Bachelor, Master, and PhD level. Currently, the University offers programmes in the following subjects: social sciences, media studies, nursing, occupational therapy, teacher training (preschool and primary school), biotechnology, law, police science, modern studies, psychology, fishery studies, computer science and business administration. Furthermore, graduate programmes are offered in the health sciences, social sciences, business administration and resource studies. As of the 2019 spring semester, UNAK became a full-fledged university with programmes at all levels of university studies when it was given permission to offer doctoral studies. We are convinced that having an open university that has close collaborations with the surrounding society is something that is good for everyone. Therefore, we are very happy to collaborate with different companies and organisations, including national and international partners. Experience has taught us that these interactions create great value; on a personal level, for the organisation, and for all students and researchers at UNAK. The strategy of the University of Akureyri for 2018-2023 states that the University of Akureyri is exemplary in the Icelandic and international community. The University has an active environmental strategy, behaves responsibly in all business dealings, has transparent administration and a responsible scientific position regarding the most prominent challenges facing the world at any given time. The University places an emphasis on good relations with the community through an effective conversation with the public, industry and government institutions. The University is furthermore an active participant in the international academic community and therefore encourages its staff to take part in public debates with an emphasis on scientific arguments.