Transcript Document

The Struggle of a Small Nation to Develop a Good
University System. What Effect will the Economic
Crisis in Iceland have on its Development?
University of Latvia 90th Anniversary 26.9.2009
Dr. Ingjaldur Hannibalsson, professor
Overview 1
Iceland before and around 1900
Professional education 1911-1939
Professional education 1939-1970
Undergraduate emphasis 1970-1995
Master level education 1996-2006
Research and doctoral education 2006-
Overview 2
• New University act in 1997
• New acts on State Universities in 1997
and 1999
• New University act in 2006
• An act on merging UofI and UofEd in
2007
• New act on State Universities in 2008
• Economic crisis
Iceland in 1900
• One of Europe’s poorest countries
• GNP/capita less than half that of Denmark
Iceland in 1900
• 70% employed in agriculture and fisheries
• 11.000 of 78.470 inhabitants lived in villages
• Turf houses most common until 1920
Sectoral distribution of the
working population 1870-2008
Major events in Iceland’s history
• 1262 A union with Norway
• 1874 A new constitution
• 1904 Minister of Icelandic affairs located
in Iceland
• 1918 Iceland sovereignty
• 1944 Republic of Iceland, June 17th
• 1994 EEA membership
Fight for independence during 19th. century
• Jón Sigurdsson, (1811-1879)
• 1843 An essay “On trade in Iceland”
• 1842 An essay “On education in
Iceland”
• 1845 Parliamentary petition with
emphasis on higher education
Higher education in Iceland
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•
•
•
1846 A college for lutheran priests
1876 A college for medical doctors
1908 A college for lawyers
1911 The University of Iceland, the
smallest, youngest and least
developed institution of higher
education in Europe, 45 students
and 11 professors
The University of Iceland in 1911
•
•
•
•
Faculty of Theology, 5 students
Faculty of Medicine, 17 students
Faculty of Law, 23 students
Faculty of Humanities, 0 students
• Located on the ground floor of the
Parliament building
The evulution of higher education
• The organization of the democratic collegial
university.
The University of Iceland 1911-1939
• 1911, 11 professors and 45 students
• 1927, 2‰ vs. 1‰, Society required 12
graduates each year, 4 priests, 4
doctors, 3 lawyers and 1 teacher every
third year.
• 1935, University lottery is started
• 1939, 14 professors and 227 students
University students in Iceland
Icelandic students abroad
Total number of Icelandic students
University students as % of population
Graduates by faculties at U of I
Graduates
by faculties Theology Medicine
1911-1920
34
32
1921-1930
47
56
1931-1940
32
85
1941-1950
40
72
1951-1960
50
158
1961-1970
28
187
1971-1980
65
381
1981-1990
92
450
Total
388
1.421
Business and Engineering and
Social
Physical
Law Humanities Economics Natural Sciences Dentistry Pharmacology sciences Nursing therapy
22
59
9
75
11
121
47
44
57
4
149
92
95
93
31
2
145
197
128
148
46
17
286
542
419
720
62
62
193
52
15
328
850
800
1.137
68
69
435
395
147
1.185
1.748
1.486
2.155
211
150
628
447
162
Total
88
171
203
385
670
896
2.797
4.771
9.981
University of Education, 1971
• Organization was similar to the
University of Iceland, except:
• The institution was not organized into
faculties and departments
• Influence of the staff to choose leaders
was much smaller than at the University
of Iceland.
University of Akureyri 1987
• Organized into faculties and the deans
were hired by the rector following a
public advertisement
• The rector’s position was advertized
and the University council made a
recommendation to the minister of
education who appointed the candidate
recommended by the University council.
Number of degrees by field
Degree structure of graduates
The obligations of a university
• To the local community
• To the scientific community
Contribution of UofI to society
•
•
•
•
•
Good infrastructure
Quality of primary and secondary schools
High life expectancy
Low infant mortility
High level of entrepreneurship
What is a good university?
• The one that admits only a very low
percentage of applicants which are so
qualified that they will graduate no matter
what education they receive
• The one that accepts every applicant, gets
them through the educational programs and
provides society with candidates who become
useful citizens building up a nation
• The value added is higher turning average
applicants into useful citizens.
Can small universities contribute to the
scientific community?
• Select students, only admit a low % of
applicants
• Be active in research
• Hire international faculty
• Admit international students
• Work closely with future employers of
graduates
The rankings of small universities
Institution
Shanghai
World
Rank
Times
World
Rank
Number of
students in
FTE
Ecole Normale Super Lyon
180,5
155,0
868
Ecole Normale Super Paris
85,0
26,0
1.132
California Inst Tech
6,0
7,5
2.197
Ecole Polytechnique
155,0
28,0
2.464
Univ Auckland
155,0
50,0
5.087
Tokyo Inst Tech
86,0
90,5
5.096
Rice Univ
71,0
92,0
5.268
Dartmouth Coll
105,0
71,5
5.657
Univ Wageningen
128,5
146,0
5.700
Swiss Fed Inst Tech - Lausanne
128,5
117,5
6.144
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst
128,5
187,0
6.376
Korea Advanced Inst Sci & Tech
180,5
131,5
6.614
Princeton Univ
8,0
5,5
6.795
Tech Univ Denmark
128,5
129,5
6.947
Univ St Andrews
155,0
76,0
7.128
Eindhoven Univ Tech
180,5
129,5
7.430
Brown Univ
79,0
32,0
7.678
Univ Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
39,0
77,5
7.866
London Sch Economics
155,0
59,0
7.891
Public financing of HE
Organization, University of Iceland
Students
Faculty
Ministry
Staff
Board
Committees
Senate President Administration
Deans
Chairs
Faculty
Students
The university system in 1997
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•
•
•
3 state universities
Collegial management system
Little political influence on internal affairs
To politicians the universities were like
black boxes that absorbed a lot of
money
• The University of Iceland was too big
New University laws, 1997
• Universities can be self-governing institutions which then
operate according to a charter. Private entities are
allowed to establish universities upon an agreement with
the minister of education.
• The position of the rector was to be advertised publicly
although it was still possible to elect the rector of the
University of Iceland.
• Representation of the university councils was changed
and the minister of education appointed one or two
representatives that were not affiliated with that university.
Reykjavik University, 1998
• The Chamber of Commerce established the Business
College in Reykjavik in 1998
• Soon, the name was changed into the Reykjavik
University of Business.
• As educational offerings became more diverse the
name was changed to Reykavik University.
• In 2005 Reykjavik University merged with the
Icelandic University of Technology and is now
operated as a limited company owned by the
employers’ associations.
Iceland Academy of the Arts, 1998
• An independent self-governing institution of
higher education.
• A temporary board appointed by the minister
of education
• A charter for the Academy was signed by the
Federation of Icelandic Artists and the
minister of education.
Bifröst University, 2000/1990
• The Federation of Icelandic Cooperative
Societies ran a high school from 1918, the
cooperative School.
• 1988 the school became an institution of
higher education
• 1990 it became a self-governing institution
the Cooperative University.
• 2000 the name was changed into the Bifröst
School of Business and from 2006 its name
has been Bifröst University.
Private institutions A
• The minister of education issued
licenses.
• The minister negotiated agreements on
the financing.
• The institutions get a contribution for an
agreed upon number of students in
different fields of study.
• The institutions can charge tuition fees.
Private institutions B
• Students get loans from the government
Student Loan Fund
• Students pay back approximately 50%
of their loans in real terms.
• The private institutions get some
research financing from the
Government but the Iceland Academy
of the Arts does not.
Higher education institutions in Iceland
Name of HEI
Organizational form
State owned
State owned
State owned
State owned
No. of
students
7980
1400
150
300
% State
contribution
61 % 9.680 m. ISK
11 % 1.461 m. ISK
1%
260 m. ISK
2%
522 m. ISK
University of Iceland
University of Akureyri
Holar University College
Agricultural University of
Iceland
Reykjavik University
Bifröst University
Iceland Academy of the Arts
64 %
10 %
2%
3%
Private, ltd.
Private, self governing
Public, self governing
2310
610
400
18 %
5%
3%
14 %
2%
4%
2.173 m. ISK
348 m. ISK
668 m. ISK
%
Three external reviews in 2004-2005
• Icelandic National Audit Office
- Finance, performance, productivity, quality,
administration and governance
• Ministry of Education
- Academic position, research performance
• European University Association
- Overall assessment, graduate programs, quality
New University law 2006
• Universities “may be run as state
institutions, non-profit organisations,
corporations, companies or as other
types of accepted legal form.
• Requirements for accreditation
• Objectives of quality control
• Administration
Legislation in 2007
• University of Iceland and the University
of Education are to merge in July 2008
• The merger created a university with
14.000 students, 1.200 permanent staff
and almost 3.000 part time lecturers.
Objectives of the Government
• Government wanted the majority of the
council to consist of external members
chosen without any interference of the
universities.
• One of the external members was to chair the
council.
• There are indications that the intention was
not only to hire the deans but also the rector
and the heads of faculties without an election.
Legislation in 2008
• The university as an independent
institution of higher education under the
ministry
• The university has full control over its
activities.
• The main organizational units of a
university are schools and faculties.
The major changes in 2008
• The majority of university council
members are external.
• The rector and other staff and student
representatives participate in the
selection of some of the external
members.
• Deans are hired by the rector.
Economic crisis
• By 2007 the assets and liabilities of Iceland’s
financial system were more than fifteen times
the GDP of Iceland.
• During 2008 the Icelandic currency got
weaker and finally in early October 2008 the
Icelandic economy collapsed.
• The value of the currency (ISK) plummeted.
The three major banks, two of which had
been created by privatizing state-owned
banks a few years earlier were nationalized.
Financial account 1990-2008
Economic crisis
• The treasury of Iceland has become very
indebted after having been almost debt-free.
• The IMF and several European Central banks
have come to the rescue on harsh conditions.
• The income of the Government has
plummeted, unemployment has grown and
many firms and families are approaching
bankruptcy.
State financing
• HE gets same state contribution in real
terms in 2009 as in 2008 but for 5%
more students.
• HE will have to cut costs by 8,5%
annually in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Actions of U of I so far
• Increase the teaching load of the oldest
full professors.
• Reduce overtime payments to staff
• Postpone upgrading of computers and
other equipment
• Reduce financial support to academic
staff on sabbatical leave abroad and to
reduce substantially foreign travel.
At the same time
• It was decided to accept applications
from students who wanted to start their
studies in January.
• It was decided to offer summer courses.
• Demand for places in 2009-2010 is
greater than before.
• As a result the number of students
2009-2010 will be 15 per cent higher
than in 2008-2009.
Possible actions
• One system not two as now
• Reducing the number of institutions of
higher education from 7
• Merging universities to avoid duplication
• Closing some of the small institutions
• Centralizing quality control, registration,
counselling, international activities and
doctoral studies
Possible actions
• Increasing cooperation among
institutions of higher education and
research institutes
• Increasing teaching load of professors
• Early retirement of those approaching
70 years of age
Recommendations
• Merge, close and centralize to reduce
costs but with emphasis of maintaining
quality
• Maintain reginal centers as part of
regional policy but not HE policy
A merger of U of I and RU
• Total contribution to the HE system 83 m
euros
• Costs have to be cut by 20 m euros 20102012
• 5 m euros can be cut by merging U of I and
RU without laying off any faculty
• 5 m euros more can be cut by stopping
duplications
The challenges of a merger
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•
•
•
•
•
One institution is public the other private
Different employment rights (public/private)
Different cultures
Different sizes (3000 vs 14000 students)
Domestic competition will cease
The new University will have 17000
students compared to 6000 at U of I in 1997
Higher education institutions in Iceland
Name of HEI
Organizational form
State owned
State owned
State owned
State owned
No. of
students
7980
1400
150
300
% State
contribution
61 % 9.680 m. ISK
11 % 1.461 m. ISK
1%
260 m. ISK
2%
522 m. ISK
University of Iceland
University of Akureyri
Holar University College
Agricultural University of
Iceland
Reykjavik University
Bifröst University
Iceland Academy of the Arts
64 %
10 %
2%
3%
Private, ltd.
Private, self governing
Public, self governing
2310
610
400
18 %
5%
3%
14 %
2%
4%
2.173 m. ISK
348 m. ISK
668 m. ISK
%
The reformed system of HE following the crisis
• University of Iceland with 15000 students
• A regional University of the North with 3000
students
• A community college in Reykjavik with 2000
students
• All state financed
Thank you