The Department of Engineering at Reykjavík University (RU) is currently celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Today, the department hosts around 500 undergraduate students and 75 graduate students. The department also offers a PHD programme.

Professor Ágúst Valfells has been with the Department of Engineering since its founding in 2005. At that time, he had recently completed a PhD in nuclear engineering in the United States and had already worked in Iceland for five years. He explains that studying engineering was always the natural path for him—something of a family tradition, as his father was also an engineer and professor.

My father was indeed a nuclear engineer, just like me. But I also found engineering fascinating and decided to follow most of my friends when they started studying mechanical engineering. I enjoyed the studies, especially thermodynamics, which is such an extensive and rich field. I had never really planned on going into nuclear engineering, but the subject appeared so broad, and I was eager to learn more about electromagnetics, plasmas, and nuclear fusion—so I gave it a try, and I’ve never regretted it.

During his PhD studies, Ágúst specialised in researching electron beams and high-power microwaves. After graduating, he worked at the University of Maryland and later at the National Energy Authority of Iceland. Describing this as “a slight U-turn into energy-related work,” though electron beams remained his primary interest. Since joining RU, he has continued his research on electron beams—technologies widely used in telecommunications systems such as satellites and radar. His research focuses on electron sources in microscale systems, which are fundamental to applications in electron microscopy, semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices, chemical analysis, and various materials processing technologies. Ágúst emphasises that the core mission of the Department of Engineering is to create value for the better good.

Laying a Strong Foundation

When Ágúst began working at RU in August 2005, the task of building up the Department of Engineering had only just begun.

We were all very young back then, myself, Hlynur Stefánsson, Ármann Gylfason (now Department Chair), Halldór Guðfinnur Svavarsson, and Karl Ægir. Given our age and prior experience, we had no business building a department from scratch—so it was an unexpected and exciting opportunity. We joined full of ideas, though of course it required a tremendous amount of extra work.

Although much has changed in the past 20 years, Ágúst says the essentials remain the same.

Working from solid scientific foundations and reliable methodology is something that never changes. That base is always present, even as new technologies emerge. From the beginning, research activity has been central to the department, and it has grown significantly as our facilities have improved. The academic programmes have also become well established, and it made a big difference when we started offering graduate studies in 2008. Through the Iceland School of Energy, we gained many international students, which improved the environment within the department enormously. The same is true for the international research students who have joined us—Paolo, for example, has been very active in bringing students from Italy.

The engineering programme offers a wide range of study options, supported by a diverse group of teachers from physics, mathematics, biology, and engineering. Strong emphasis is placed on hands-on learning, which prepares students well for the job market. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to take part in real research projects—an addition Ágúst considers a major improvement that makes the programme more engaging.

Generally, our studens have already been employed once they graduate, and those who perform well are admitted to the top universities in the world. These are the main indicators of the quality of our work—that students gain entry to excellent graduate programmes and find employment.

A Future Built on Interaction

When asked about the future of engineering at RU, Ágúst answers without hesitation:

I see the future in ensuring that RU remains a place where a learning community thrives and where everyone is physically present. Technology must not take over completely—we need to insist that students and teachers are here, working together. Interaction is the key to success: exchanging ideas, examining problems collectively. This is how we can do even better in delivering engineering knowledge over the next 20 years. I’ve also always believed it is unwise to focus too heavily on teaching the newest technology, because it changes so fast. Instead, we must train students who are skilled at acquiring and creating new knowledge.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Department of Engineering at RU, an anniversary symposium will be held, during which some of the department's leading researchers and teachers will present their research. The symposium will take place on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 3:00 PM in room M101. Light refreshments will be served at the end in Olympus on the 3rd floor of RU. All are welcome.