The University of Iceland's Technical Institute expanded due to increased popularity

The Technical Centre of the University of Iceland is to be expanded.
at the Learning Centre by the Stream in Hafnarfjörður following students in
The number of students on the engineering programme has increased significantly in recent terms. Rósa
Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, and Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector
The University of Iceland signed an agreement on this matter at the Faculty of Engineering on
days.

Demand for skilled people is growing in Icelandic society 

Just over three years
since the study of engineering technology was moved from Ásbrú in Reykjanesbær to the Education Centre at
The aim of the transfers was, among other things, to further strengthen the framework of the study.
and at the same time lay a strong foundation for shorter higher education courses in technical subjects. Furthermore
Was the aim to increase the number of students in engineering, given the demand for people?
with such education growing in Icelandic society.

„Three years ago, we celebrated the arrival of the University of Iceland's Faculty of Engineering in Hafnarfjörður, and now we celebrate its increased popularity, expansion and strengthening. It is very pleasing to see the Learning Centre by the Stream become, in a tangible way, a house of creativity, learning and technology, and to do so in a strong partnership with the university. Hafnarfjörður is a vibrant educational community in rapid development and formation, and it is fitting that the higher education specialisation in Hafnarfjörður is in the field of technology. There has been a significant boom in business development in the area; industrial plots are selling out fast and the number of technology companies within the town's boundaries is growing. Then there is the forthcoming development of the Technical University's future premises in the harbour area. I can see a great deal of collaboration and a flow of students between them,“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður.

The number of students has doubled in three years.

At the Technical College, courses are offered on the one hand.
A three-semester diploma programme in technical subjects at further education college level, which provides access to
other studies at university level, and on the other hand, the BSc in engineering which formally
under the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Iceland. The structure of the programme on
The new site has been led by Karl Sölvi Guðmundsson, a professor at
The Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Iceland, who is also the director
of the Technical Centre. Since the move to the Education Centre was completed about three years ago
Over the years, the programme has grown and flourished. Sixty students are now studying engineering and
the number has almost doubled since 2017. That is particularly noteworthy.
as opportunities to promote the course have been few in recent terms due to
of the pandemic. Applications from new students have also more than doubled since
the transfer of the programme to Hafnarfjörður, but it should be noted that the first students who
Those who enrolled after the transfer will graduate this year.

„It has been a great challenge to move and revive the study of engineering science at the same time as a global pandemic is raging. Few opportunities have arisen to introduce the course to interested and prospective students. Nevertheless, the engineering programme has grown steadily since 2018. We can only look to the future with optimism, with greatly improved student and teaching facilities at the Learning Centre by the Stream. With the sun shining and infection rates falling, we look forward to presenting the programme and our excellent learning facilities to future technologists. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has been involved in the development of the University of Iceland's Technology Centre,” says Karl Sölvi Guðmundsson, professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Forecasts of continued growth call for an expansion of the premises.

Predictions are still being made
Rather, a continued increase in students is expected in the coming years, and it was therefore clear that
It was necessary to respond by expanding the premises for the operations. The Technical Centre
has had use of one floor in the premises of the Learning Centre by the Stream in accordance with
under the agreement between the University of Iceland and the City of Hafnarfjörður from 2018, but under a new agreement
The centre will gain use of an additional floor. It will, among other things, be used to enhance
to further practical teaching in the programme and improve student facilities.

„It is very gratifying how positive the development has been in the engineering programme since it was moved to the Engineering Centre in Hafnarfjörður in 2018. Engineering is an important applied discipline for Icelandic society. We at the University of Iceland have worked to strengthen it in recent years, and it is now very well established at the University of Iceland. I would like to thank Professor Karl Sölvi Guðmundsson for his leadership role in this work. I also thank Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, for our successful collaboration,” says Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland.

Photographs: Kristinn Ingvarsson