Higher Education in Iceland and Future Opportunities

1. Higher Education in Iceland andFuture Opportunities Guðfinna S. Bjarnadóttir, Ph.D. Rector, Reykjavík University www.ru.is September 3rd 2001

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

3. Introduction to higher education Students and statistics in higher education # years in school 17.7 years avg. (OECD 16.4 years) # of students 12.000 in Iceland & 2.000+ abroad Age when enter 20+ years old (avg. 1. year students) Globalization 20% study abroad (OECD 4.3%)

4. 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 Introduction to higher education Prediction: # of students future trend % of age group (avg. 20-24 years old) Icelandic students (actual) Best prediction (top at 500%) year Jón Torfi Jónasson, OECD Education at a Glance

5. Universities in Iceland # of students • 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

6. 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

7. 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 18-75 are entrepreneurs (*) 8.4% USA (highest in GEM, 1999) and 1.4% in Finland (lowest) 36% of economic growth explained by entrepreneurial activities Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), 1999 (*) Participated in entrepreneurial activities - as defined by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Umhverfi til nýsköpunar á Íslandi, Samtök atvinnulífsins, Deloitte & Touche & Nýsköpunarsjóður 2001

8. 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 16-75 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)

9. Export High-tech export % % 5 100 90 80 4 70 3 60 % of GNP 50 40 2 30 1 20 10 0 0 1960 1985 90 95 2000 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 2000

10. 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

11. RU´s MBA program in co-operation with:

12. Future opportunities • 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