Iceland review - 2004, Side 72

ICELAND REVIEW SUPPLEMENT / 70
Since its founding in 1911, the University of Iceland has played an integral role
in the development of Icelandic society. Constantly responding to the nation’s
demands for more education, the University has grown to become a full-fledged
institute of higher learning, on par with any major university in the world.
Furthermore, the University of Iceland remains at the forefront of scientific
research in a number of disciplines. There could be no better place in the world
to study earth and geothermal sciences than in a country where life is shaped
daily by those forces. The University also offers excellent programs in Nordic his-
tory and literature, reflecting the country’s rich heritage as the writers of the
Sagas. Iceland is also the ideal place to study linguistics, considering that
Icelandic is the oldest and purest Nordic language.
The University of Iceland’s leadership in these and many other fields has resulted
in steadily increasing admissions, particularly to the post-graduate programs. As
the foremost research and educational institution in Iceland, the University
understands the importance of nurturing a global perspective in its students. As
a result, the University offers students in all fields the opportunity to partake in
exchange studies at partner universities abroad.
Over the course of the next years, the University intends to focus on strengthen-
ing its role as a research institution. Since the University holds its own in com-
parison with the world’s leading educational institutions, more and more stu-
dents are coming to enjoy their post-secondary and graduate years in the natu-
rally beautiful environs of Reykjavík. To accommodate the international students
it serves, the University increased the number of courses offered in English to an
all-time high of 150 last fall.
www.hi.is
HIGHER
EDUCATION
AT THE TOP
OF THE
WORLD
University of Iceland
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