First NUSCT conference held in the Faroe Islands in june 2025: "The Role of Universities in Small Scale Societies"

The University of the Faroe Islands would like to welcome abstracts for papers for the NUSCT Historical Conference which will be held in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, 2-3 June 2025.

The universities in the NUSCT co-operation are all part of small-scale societies, and the theme of the conference is which role universities have in such societies.

Universities in small scale societies have a different role to play in their communities, whether it is local or national, compared to universities in large countries. Many universities in these societies are established with a certain purpose, e.g. to stop out-migration or to preserve local culture and language. Universities can also play a vital role in modernising local communities, and in this effort, universities often have a close connection to political institutions. These purposes can give universities in small scale societies certain challenges. A consequence can be, that there is more focus on education and applied science than in universities in larger societies.

In line with this theme, we welcome presentations on the following topics:

1. The prioritisation of research fields in small scale societies – e.g. society, culture, language, health, basic research or applied research

2. Demographic challenges – societal role of universities in terms of migration and gender

3. Universities as identity bearers – local, national, and regional

4. Transformation of societies – and the universities role in it

5. The role of the university in democracy and political institutions

We welcome abstracts for papers of max. 300 words, and a short biography of no more than 100 words, with your name and current affiliation. Deadline has been extended to February 1st 2025. All proposals should be emailed to erlingi@setur.fo

Contact details:

Erling Isholm

Faculty for History and Social SciencesUniversity of the Faroe IslandsJónas Broncksgøta 25, FO-100 Tórshavn

Faroe Islands

https://www.setur.fo

Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir new rector of the University of Akureyri

Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir has formally taken over the position of Rector of the University of Akureyri. “I anticipate the future with real enthusiasm and, in particular, I eagerly await getting to know the staff and students of the University. Continuing the expansion and progress already under way at the University of Akureyri is certainly a matter of high expectations, since various exciting projects are already being conducted at the University, for example regarding housing and accommodation, as well as continued discussions with the University of Bifröst”, Áslaug says, who is currently preparing to settle down in Akureyri. “For many years, I have lived in a small city in Maine, USA and I am looking forward to moving to Akureyri and becoming acquainted with the way of life in this town, whose neighbourhood has rich and varied cultural connections to offer, as well as an attractive and accessible natural environment.”

Eyjólfur Guðmundsson now takes leave of the University of Akureyri after ten successful years as Rector. His career at the University is considerably longer, however, as he was employed at the University from 1999 until he took up the position of chief economist at CCP in 2007. Then Eyjólfur assumed the position of Rector of the University of Akureyri 1 July 2014. “The University has now reached maturity as an academic institution. Doctoral studies, increased research and the transfer of knowledge to all Icelandic communities will be the principal role of the university in the nearest future and in this respect Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be of utmost consequence. It is the most important task of the universities to prepare the country as a whole for the far-reaching revolution that awaits us as a result of the introduction of AI in all spheres of society. It will, therefore, be of more significance now than ever before that the University of Akureyri become the centre of gravity in research and development, particularly in communities outside the area of the capital,” said Eyjólfur Guðmundsson in his address at Háskólahátíð, the graduation ceremony of UNAK (assisted by AI), as he looked back over the years gone by.

“I wish to express my gratitude for our co-operation during the past decade and I should like to emphasise to the staff and students of the University the fundamental necessity of tackling undaunted the challenges of the future, guided by optimism”.

Dr. Juli Minoves Triquell - New Rector of the Universitat d'Andorra

Dr. Juli Minoves Triquell  has been appointed rector of the Universitat

d'Andorra, succeeding  Dr. Miquel Nicolau, also founder of the Network

of Universities of Small Countries and Territories. His five-year

mandate will begin on May 23, 2024.

Dr. Minoves holds a Bachelor's degree in Economic and Social Sciences

from the University of Friborg (Switzerland), as well as a Master's and

a Doctorate in Political Science from Yale University (Connecticut,

USA).

Prior to his appointment at UdA, Rector Minoves served as a full

professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute of

International Studies at the University of La Verne (California, USA)

since 2012. He is also an elected member of the Spanish Royal Academy of

Economic and Financial Sciences (Instituto de España) since 2022.

Additionally, Dr. Minoves has served as a visiting professor at

prestigious institutions such as the Institute of Political Studies

(Sciences Po) in Paris and CIDOB (Barcelona Center for International

Affairs).

Rector Minoves has an extensive diplomatic background, having previously

served as an Andorran diplomat from 1993 to 2001. He later held various

ministerial portfolios in the Government of Andorra from 2001 to 2009.

May, 2024