Our dreams about the future drive us on and create the desire to reach new heights, but it is the talent to make dreams a reality which provides us with tangible results. Internationalisation, a technological revolution, and access to a wealth of information have opened for us the door to the future. The international economies of the world and the information and knowledge communities in which we live have brought us opportunities beyond our dreams and at the same time the world is placing new demands upon us. What talents and knowledge do we need to succeed in this new world?

The managers and specialists of the future need to be able to analyse and disseminate information, to distinguish which information can be trusted, and to have a robust fundamental knowledge of specialised areas but at the same time know how to use reasoning and creativity to deal with complex, interdisciplinary projects. The new needs of the economy therefore greatly influence what subjects are taught and how they are taught at Reykjavik University.

Do You Want a Competitive Advantage?

Those who will excel in coming years are the individuals and companies which acquire interdisciplinary skill sets; the engineer needs to be able to work closely with business administrators, the entrepreneur with people in finance, and the lawyer with scientists. The lines between areas of specialty are becoming blurred and the connections between them more important. This is why studies at RU are built on the cooperation of students from different departments, different areas of science, and even different cultures. This communication increases students' understanding of the needs of others, enhances their abilities, and makes their studies more colourful and diverse in addition to better preparing them for venturing out into the economy.

Students at RU can attend courses in approximately 100 schools in over 20 countries. The students work under the guidance of highly regarded individuals from Icelandic industry and the most skilled teachers and scientists in the country all of whom aspire to effectively share their knowledge and experience. Around 400 teachers currently work at the school in addition to almost 40 guest lecturers from foreign countries. In developing the school, advice was sought from prestigious universities in Europe and the USA, and by continuing to cooperate with universities, research institutes, companies, and institutions in Iceland and abroad, RU can continue its growth.
 
RU is highly sought after for the reason that graduates have gotten the opportunity to collaborate internationally, to work with people from different disciplines, and to develop an understanding of Icelandic industry. They have learned how to work on practical projects and have furthermore learned how to apply theory in solving actual assignments. In this way, RU encourages innovation and increases the competitiveness of both Icelandic industry and the school's students.

Are You Seeking Practical, Interactive, and International Studies?

RU bridges the gap between business and technology, and reasoning and creativity with studies in its five Schools: School of Science and Engineering, School of Health and Education, School of Business, School of Computer Science, and School of Law.
 
The School of Science and Engineering is the largest of its kind in Iceland and offers diverse courses of study in relevant areas in addition to preliminary studies. Students at the School can choose from, for example, technology studies, industrial studies, biomedical engineering, industrial engineering, engineering management, and financial engineering.
 
Reasoning and diagnostic abilities are and will among future generations continue to be one of the most sought after talents. In the School of Health and Education, emphasis is placed on strengthening mathematics and science education in Iceland and, furthermore, on creating a unique position for RU among universities in Iceland by integrating mathematics education and active teaching methods in that area with the studies conducted in all of RU's Schools. The School of Health and Education also offers studies in sports science and a master's programme in public health education.
 
The School of Law and the School of Business offer both undergraduate and graduate programmes. During students' initial years at the School of Business, they get a solid foundation in business studies. At the end of their first and second years, students also work on comprehensive practical projects, a factor which gives RU's business studies a certain uniqueness. The School of Business also offers graduate programmes in international business, accounting and auditing, and finance. Furthermore, the School offers an intensive MBA programme which is a general management and business programme at the graduate level intended for individuals with an undergraduate degree or considerable work experience who wish to strengthen their management and leadership skills. The aim is to train students in the running and management of companies.

In recent years, considerable changes have taken place in the work environment of Icelandic lawyers, changes which call for new and purposeful emphases in legal education. RU's School of Law offers ambitious and modern programmes in legal studies with the aim of graduating outstanding lawyers who are capable of becoming leaders in their fields. One of the main characteristics of graduate studies at the School of Law is the diverse choice of emphases and courses of study. This provides students with the opportunity to specialise within the legal profession and to integrate their studies with other disciplines.
 
Studies at all of RU's Schools are progressive and alert to practices at elite foreign universities. The school's curriculum is constantly evolving and just under 700 courses per year are currently offered; over 500 at the undergraduate level and approximately 160 at the graduate level, all of which fully take into account the needs of both students and the economy.

Does Your Environment Play a Part in Your Success?

Joy and interactive studies characterise RU. Each student is welcomed as an individual and given the space to develop and grow. In an age of information there is little need for learning by rote. More pressing is the need to develop critical thinking and communication skills. This outlook is reflected in the content of studies and the methods of teaching at RU.
 
RU excels in regard to student services. This high level of service does not mean that fewer demands are made of teachers and students. On the contrary, RU's staff members always put forth their best effort and expect students to do the same. Services are based on a positive attitude, outstanding facilities for teaching and studies, in addition to good access to study materials and staff members. Communication within the school is characterised by mutual respect and great enthusiasm for disseminating knowledge and creating something new and exciting.

Each year, around 600 students graduate from RU with Diploma, Bachelor's, or Master's degrees. Following demanding and entertaining studies, students either become active in the economy or pursue further studies. To serve the economy and students in the best manner possible, RU's Career Services were established with the aim of providing students with exciting and demanding jobs following their studies and, furthermore, with the goal of giving Icelandic companies and institutions the opportunity to find the right employee for their needs among RU's graduates.
 

Do You Want to Prepare for the Future?

So many things are deemed unthinkable before they are actually achieved. To succeed, we need only to have the courage to dream and the ability to realise those dreams. RU prepares the managers and specialists of the future by providing outstanding teaching, a connection with Icelandic and foreign industry, and a glimpse into the future through pioneering research work and active international collaboration. If you want to prepare for the future and learn and develop in a joyful, creative, and demanding environment then Reykjavik University is for you. A strong education and a clear vision of what is to come lays the foundation for a successful future.

Best of luck.
Dr. Svafa Grönfeldt, Rector.