JBT Marel and Reykjavík University renew their cooperation agreement

A cooperation agreement between JBT Marel and Reykjavík University has been renewed for the next three years. The aim of the agreement is to strengthen ongoing collaboration, with a particular focus on diversity in technology fields and increasing young people’s interest in higher education.

JBT Marel will continue funding the event Strákar og stálp í háskóla and Stelpur og stálp í háskóla. The first event is a new initiative, held for the first time last year, aimed at teenage boys and non-binary teenagers. It is organised similarly to Stelpur, stálp og tækni, which has been held at RU since 2013 and is aimed at girls and non-binary teenagers.

Stelpur og stálp í háskóla is modelled after Girls in ICT Day, organised by the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency for information and communication technologies. As part of the initiative, 9th-grade students are invited to Reykjavík University to participate in a variety of hands-on workshops in collaboration with technology companies.

Participants also gain insight into careers in the tech sector, as women and non-binary professionals from partner companies host the groups and share their experiences, offering a glimpse into career opportunities following studies in technology. JBT Marel has been a long-standing supporter of the initiative, and its contributions have been key to expanding the programme, helping break down stereotypes and highlight diversity within the tech industry.

The Strákar og stálp í háskóla initiative follows a similar model and aims to inspire boys and non-binary students to consider pursuing further education. At the event, students participate in workshops, meet companies, and attend motivational talks from role models in both academia and industry.

The renewal of the agreement provides a strong foundation for the continued development and implementation of these important initiatives in the years ahead.