The University of New England, as part of its commitment to global engagement, has signed partnership agreements with two Icelandic universities – the University of Iceland and Reykjavik University (RU) – that will forge new paths for academic and cultural exchange in the Arctic.
The two agreements, signed Tuesday, March 3, will enhance the University’s international presence, strengthen students’ global competency and cultural awareness, and open up new opportunities for research and expanded academic programs.
UNE and the University of Iceland have agreed to foster academic collaboration by facilitating and encouraging student, faculty, and staff exchanges; the exchange of academic materials; and the development of joint research opportunities.
Additionally, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed with RU will encourage the exchange of students and faculty engaged in study, instruction, and research. The MOA will also allow for other mutually beneficial cooperative ventures, including research and publication, internships, professional conferences, and the development of linked degree programs.
Anouar Majid, Ph.D., vice president for and founding director of the at UNE, said he is pleased to have represented UNE in signing the agreements.
“There is much that our students and faculty could benefit from by working collaboratively with our partners in this very forward-looking nation,” said Majid. “Signing our new partnerships at the height of a pandemic fear is a clear illustration of our commitment to global education in an interdependent world. The world’s solutions are not going to be found in isolation, but in partnerships and collaborative work across the globe.”
