Annual Quality Board Conference 2022

Time: 17 May 2022 at 13:00-16:30
Location: Lecture hall, Iceland University of the Arts, Laugarnesvegur 91, 105 Reykjavik

A variety of Masters degrees – such as professional, taught, or research-based Masters – are required to meet different needs of students and society. How can universities safeguard the quality of the offering at that level while ensuring both a diversity of provision and academic rigour? This is particularly challenging in small countries, which can lack critical mass and where vital resources might be diverted to the first and third cycles.

Taking into account the situation in Iceland, the conference explored the following questions: Are offerings at the Masters’ level clear and understandable to students and employers? Should courses be accessible to both undergraduate and Masters students and under what conditions? How do universities ensure that their Masters degrees map out onto the National Qualifications Framework? What can be learnt from international examples of enhancing Masters level studies?

Programme

13:00-13:15
Welcome and introduction to the theme by Crichton Lang, Member, Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education.

13:15-13:30 
The Second Cycle of the Icelandic Higher Education System by Una Strand Viðarsdóttir, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

13:30-14:40
Making the Most of Masters chaired by Philip Winn, Member, Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education.

Panel discussion: The views from Iceland

• Róbert Haraldsson, Director of the Division of Academic Affairs and Professor of Philosophy, University of Iceland.
• Stefan Wendt, Dean, School of Business, Bifröst University.
• Hulda Stefánsdóttir, Dean, School of Academic Development, Iceland University of the Arts.
• Hlynur Óskarsson, Director of Graduate Studies, Agricultural University of Iceland.

Break

15:10-16:20

The role of universities in ensuring the level and quality of their Masters: The case of the University of Turku by Riitta Pyykkö, Member, Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education, Professor and former Vice-Rector, University of Turku, Finland.

Ensuring the Quality of Master’s Degrees chaired by Oisín Hassan, Member, Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education.

Panel discussion: The views from Iceland (continued)

• Benedikt Traustason, representative of LÍS, the National Union of Icelandic Students.
• Luca Aceto, Professor of Computer Science, Reykjavík University. 
• Sigríður Halldórsdóttir, Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri.
• Skúli Skúlason, Professor, Hólar University.
• Helga J. Bjarnadóttir, Director, Society Department, EFLA Consulting Engineers.

16:20-16:30
Wrap-up by Ellen Hazelkorn, Member, Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education.