Higher Education in Iceland and Future Opportunities Guðfinna S. Bjarnadóttir, Ph.D. Rector, Reykjavík University September 3 rd 2001

Outline  Brief introduction to higher education  Universities in Iceland  Reykjavík University  Entrepreneurship  Technology  Globalization  Future opportunities

Students and statistics in higher education # years in school 17.7 years avg. (OECD 16.4 years) # of students in Iceland & abroad Age when enter 20+ years old (avg. 1. year students) Globalization 20% study abroad (OECD 4.3%) Introduction to higher education

Jón Torfi Jónasson, OECD Education at a Glance Introduction to higher education % of age group (avg years old) Prediction: # of students future trend year Icelandic students (actual) Best prediction (top at 500%)

Universities in Iceland  University of Iceland 7000  University of Akureyri 950  Icelandic University of Education 1800  Bifröst School of Business 207  Icelandic College of Engineering and Technology 750  Icelandic University of Arts 230  Hvanneyri Agricultural University 35  Reykjavík University 950 # of students

Reykjavík University (RU)  Est. 1998, 3 departments, 956 students  Chartered by the Chamber of Commerce, mission:  Increase competitiveness of businesses  Guiding principles:  Entrepreneurship  Technology development  Globalization  Goals: Help students…  to become both analytical and practitioners  to become strong characters  Problem-based-learning approach

Entrepreneurship  One of RU´s guiding principles  Is a 1. year course in the School of Business  RU is both entrepreneurial and dynamic in daily activities  RU and some major companies in Iceland run an annual open competition to promote entrepreneurship 19% of Icelanders age are entrepreneurs (*) 8.4% USA (highest in GEM, 1999) and 1.4% in Finland (lowest) 36% of economic growth explained by entrepreneurial activities (*) Participated in entrepreneurial activities - as defined by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Umhverfi til nýsköpunar á Íslandi, Samtök atvinnulífsins, Deloitte & Touche & Nýsköpunarsjóður 2001 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), 1999

Technology Development  One of RU´s guiding principles  School of Computer Science – teaching and research work  Distance learning  All courses at RU have home-pages  Electronic library 80% of Icelanders age have internet access (PWC, 2000) Rated #3 of 59 countries (World Economic Forum, 2000) 5 hrs average time spent per week on the internet (PWC, 2000) Rated #3 in number of servers in use (WEF, 2000) 5 times more high-tech export in 2000 than in 1985 (growth)

Export High-tech export % of GNP % %

Globalization  One of RU´s guiding principles  RU´s MBA emphasizes Global e-Management  RU benchmarks best practices globally  Examples of international partnership at RU:  University Consortium (UNICON)  Management Center Europe (MCE)  Faculty and student exchange 20% of Icelandic students in higher education study abroad - many turn back and become university teachers/professors Joint declaration of the European Ministers of Education (1999) United Nations University - Geothermal training program - Fisheries training program Various programs at the University of Iceland

RU´s MBA program in co-operation with:

 Increase Emphasis on Education in Iceland  Increase Access to Knowledge  Increase co-operation with Universities/Companies Abroad  Global Knowledge Transfer  Knowledge expertise/service/products  Programs  Courses  Provide Distance Learning Courses Globally  Export International Executive Education Future opportunities