Heimahöfn Háskólakennslu formally launched

Heimahöfn Háskólakennslu, a collaborative project involving all universities in Iceland, was officially launched on Monday, August 17, by Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education. 

The goal of Heimahöfn Háskólakennslu is to support the professional development of university teachers in Iceland through a series of open, online, professional development courses, available in both Icelandic and English. The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.

Heimahöfn was launched at the University of Iceland as part of a symposium involving all universities in Iceland, on the importance of professional teaching development in our universities. The symposium discussed the history and value of teaching development both nationally and internationally, international trends in the field, and a future vision of greater collaboration to enhance the quality of Higher Education in Iceland.

The symposium featured presentations from Guðrún Geirsdóttir, Professor and Director of the University of Iceland Teaching Centre, Dr. Auðbjörg Björnsdóttir, Director of the University of Akureyri Teaching and Information Technology Centre, Margrét Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, Director of the Division of Academic Affairs at the University of Iceland, Helena Sigurðardóttir, Educational Developer at the University of Akureyri, and John Baird, Educational Developer at Reykjavik University. 

A clear interest in increased collaboration

The final part of the symposium featured a discussion based on audience responses to a Mentimeter poll. 

Responses showed a clear consensus regarding both the importance of teaching development to the quality of teaching and learning and the value of a more coordinated and collaborative approach to teaching development among universities.

In open-ended responses regarding the most important steps to be taken over the next 12 months, participants identified increased opportunities for teachers to undertake teaching development, linking teaching to salary and promotion systems, more formal and coordinated university collaboration, including with the Ministry, and support for the implementation and continued development of Heimahöfn Háskólakennslu.  

Further information about Heimahöfn Háskólakennslu, including how to register for courses, will be published in the coming weeks.