RES | the School for Renewable Energy Science

RES - the School for Renewable Energy Science graduates its students through its affiliation with the University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland.  Both Universities are accredited higher education institutions.  

The previous laws on universities gave the Minister of Education, Science and Culture the power to license the operations of privately funded universities. State funded universities operated according to special laws for each institution. The new Higher Education Act covers all universities operating according to the laws’ definitions, regardless of their operational form, and the Minister can license these institutions given that they fulfill certain conditions. A university’s recognition is linked to a given set of fields of knowledge or subsets of these fields. The universities are then free to decide what courses they offer within the fields of knowledge for which they are recognized.

Further information on Higher Education Accreditation in Iceland can be found on the web page of the Minister of Education, Science and Culture.

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COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT
RES - the School for Renewable Energy Science, University of Akureyri and University of Iceland

1.Introduction

Parties to the Agreement

Parties to this Agreement are RES School for Renewable  Energy Science (RES), identification No. 650406-2060, on the one hand, and the University of Akureyri (HA), identification No. 520687-1229 and the University of Iceland (HÍ) identification No. 600169-2039, on the other.

Collaboration Premises

RES is operated by Orkuvörður ehf, a private limited liability company in the ownership of various corporations, institutes and associations. Profit is not the company objective. The role of RES is to work on projects and promote research and education in the field of renewable energy sources.

The University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland provide their students with education enabling them to focus independently on scientific projects, fulfil various society functions and conduct research beneficial for Icelandic society. Within both universities, extensive academic research is conducted in the disciplines that are of interest to RES.

This agreement is concluded by its parties in order to stimulate inter-collaboration in the light of the fact that teaching and research of the universities relate in many ways to RES projects.  Many among RES personnel and the school collaborative parties have a great deal of experience in teaching and training of university graduate students at the master´s degree level.

Aims and Roles of the Parties to the Agreement.

In support of common goals this agreement serves to strive for optimal utilisation of the specialised knowledge, skills, material and position that the parties to the agreement command.

Aims of the conclusion of this agreement are especially to:

• Strengthen academic and practical education of university students in the fields of study covered by the agreement.
• Increase research and teaching in fields relating to the natural environment, energy and renewable energy sources.
• Ensure that the quality of research conducted by the parties to the agreement is comparable to the best in contemporary practice.
• Utilise possibilities for joint equipment operations in support of either joint or individual projects of each party to the agreement.
• Ensure as much flexibility as possible in the development of RES and the independence of the school.

Within the scope of this agreement, the role of the universities is to be professionally responsible for the quality of teaching, curriculums, study assessment and ensure that staff members entrusted with teaching and research on behalf of RES, HA and HÍ, satisfy academic requirements.

The role of RES is to serve as a forum for graduate studies and research in the field of renewable energy studies – RES will recruit indigenous and foreign teachers and instructors for research projects with the consent of HÍ and HA; provide teaching and research facilities; take part in teaching in the specialties of RES; and assume costs of training and salaries relating to master´s degree research projects that fit into the RES project frame in each instance.

2.     Term of Validity

This agreement is designed for a five year term. Changes to the agreement are permitted during its term by a joint decision of the parties in the forum of the collaborative committee. After three years of the agreement term have elapsed, an assessment of the agreement implementation is to be made, on approval by the parties, and an appraisal of how its objectives have been achieved. The parties can terminate the agreement on one year´s notice. Attention is then to be paid to enabling students, pursuing their studies on the basis of the agreement, to complete their studies.

3.     Scope of Validity

This agreement comprises collaboration in academic fields relating to RES operations.

The University of Akureyri concludes the contract because of its faculties that are involved, especially the Faculty of Business and Science.

The University of Iceland concludes the agreement because of its faculties that are involved, especially the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Applied Science and the Faculty of Business and Economics.

An attachment hereto explains how academic fields covered by the agreement relate to HA and HÍ faculties and RES operations.

4.     Collaborative Committee

Six members and three alternates are on the collaborative committee that deals with the agreement and the relations of its parties. Two members and one alternate are appointed by the Rector of the University of Akureyri, two members and one alternate are appointed by the Rector of the University of Iceland and two members and one alternate are appointed by RES, which appoints the committee chair.

The role of the Committee is to:

• Ensure the implementation of the agreement and the decisions relating to it,
• Discuss the pooling of teaching and resource facilities and equipment management.
• Discuss the implementation of master´s degree studies in consultation with administration of studies, cf. chapter 6, and ensure that rules, laws and demands on quality are complied with.
• Discuss common topics such as jobs relating to the parties to the agreement, cf. chapter 8.
• Take the initiative in a revision of the agreement, if deemed necessary.
  

The collaborative committee sets its own rules of procedure. The collaborative committee is to convene regularly. Decisions and other conclusions are to be entered in the minutes and confirmed by the committee members.

5.      Collaborative Research

On the basis of policy formulation on scientific work, the parties to the agreement will establish joint rules on research projects. The aim of this effort is to increase academic research and scientific work.

6.      Master´s  Degree Studies in Renewable Energy Science

The University of Akureyri, University of Iceland and RES cooperate on the organisation, construction and development of master´s degree programmes of studies in the sector of renewable energy source studies aiming at providing the best education and training in this sector.

The studies are designed to meet the needs of society on research, service and policy formulation, which relate to renewable energy sources and promote knowledge thereof.

The University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri are jointly responsible for the admission of students, the studies as a whole and the awarding of an examination degree on completion of studies. The plan foresees, on behalf of the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri, a jointly awarded examination degree, whose further arrangement, implementation and professional features will be finalised by the universities before admission of the first students to the programme of studies at the beginning of the year 2008.

The Administration of Studies on behalf of the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri will confirm the admission of the students.

Expectations are that RES will conclude a special service contract with the University of Akureyri on facilities for teaching and research, student services, registration, international relations, and examinations, information technology and service and financial relations.

Expectations are that RES will conclude a special service contract with the University of Iceland on facilities for teaching and research, financial relations etc.

The head offices of RES master´s degree studies in the sector of renewable energy        sources are in Akureyri.

The basis of organisation, professional responsibility and implementation

• The basis of professional responsibility and implementation of master´s degree studies in the sector of renewable energy sources is to be found in the law, Act no. 63/2006, Regulation no. 1067/2007, General Regulations of the University of Iceland no. 458/2000 and, in particular, in University of Iceland Regulation no. 296/2005 on Master´s Degree Studies at the University of Iceland in environmental and natural resource studies, which will be applied where appropriate.
• Corresponding regulations of the University of Akureyri are mainly Regulations no. 466/2007 on the University of Akureyri.

Administration of Studies

A special administrative body supervises the professional organisation and implementation of master´s degree studies in cooperation with the university faculties concerned. The rectors of HÍ and HA appoint the Administration of Studies for a three year term at a time. RES appoints two delegates to the Administration of Studies and each faculty participating in the studies appoints one delegate on its behalf.

HÍ and HA delegates alternate as chairpersons of the Administration of Studies. By appointing delegates to the Administration of Studies, the university faculty concerned acquires participation in the programme of study together with the rights and duties that it entails.

The Administration of Studies assumes professional responsibility for studies on behalf of the participating faculties, The Administration of Studies is in charge of all collective aspects of the study programme, which it organises and supervises in cooperation with the collaborative committee specified in the agreement, cf. chapter 4.

The Administration of Studies ensures the quality of the programme of study, i.a. by reviewing and approving applications, approving study programmes and changes in them, appointing members to master´s degree committees and nominating examiners for master´s degree examinations.

In case of an equal number of votes in the Administration of Studies, the vote of the chair is decisive.

On Studies

Master´s degree studies in the sector of renewable energy studies at RES amount to a minimum of 45 credits (90ECTS). Normally the guideline is that the study programme covers at least one year (12 months or three semesters). On graduation the student is to prove that he was registered and has paid registration and school fees at RES throughout the entire period of study.  Part of the master´s degree studies can be pursued at other universities or accredited research or scientific institutes, on approval of the parties concerned. The attachment contains a more detailed description of the study programme and its composition.

Admission of Students

To register for the master´s degree studies the applicant is required to have completed the BS examination in engineering or applied science or a BA examination in economics, or other university studies accepted as equivalent to the first level of university study or have demonstrated competence in studies and/or competence in independent research in the field of engineering, applied science or economics.

Graduation

Students graduate from the University of Iceland with the M.S. examination degree    (Master of Science). The examination certificate discloses that the examination degree is in the sector of Renewable Energy Science, which is part of a cooperative project between RES, HÍ and HA, on the basis of this agreement.

The aim is for the degree to be jointly awarded by HÍ and HA, cf. paragraph 3 of this chapter, and that students graduate jointly from both universities.

7.     Teaching and Students

RES staff members and, as the case may be, staff from other RES collaborative institutes assumes teaching and instruction on a temporary basis at the University of Iceland or the University of Akureyri, as agreed on by RES and faculties at the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri participating in the programme of study. Special contracts are to be made with faculties, when there is constant and substantial cooperation.  RES will on its behalf define the professional duties of those of its staff members who on this basis accept the decision to teach at the University of Akureyri and the University of Akureyri.

RES defrays training costs and salaries in research projects of those master´s degree candidates, and doctoral candidates, as the case may be, that RES can accommodate within the framework of its own projects. In other instances, when the University of Akureyri or the University of Iceland obtain instructors in advanced studies from RES, the University of Akureyri or the University of Iceland defray the training costs in accordance with general guidelines.

RES provides students in courses, within the academic disciplines ,covered by this agreement, access to published material of RES and  necessary research data, according to the applicable rules thereon and on the basis of a further agreement and subject to the limitations that may be applied by the  data owner.

8.     Personnel Relations

University faculties, participating in the collaborative project, are authorised on behalf of the rector concerned to invite selected specialists of RES to accept academic visiting posts at the faculties involved, in accordance with the applicable rules of each university.  A visitor´s post entails that the RES staff member concerned receives recognition as an instructor in research studies within the faculty concerned, provided he/she satisfies the requirements made by each university in this respect. Visiting instructors publish scientific articles based on their instructorship work in the name of RES and the University of Iceland or the University of Akureyri.

The universities conclude an agreement with visiting instructors on rights and duties with RES participation. In other respects the rules of procedure of the universities apply to these visiting posts.

On the basis of this agreement, the parties will implement an arrangement whereby specialists of one of them can be temporarily employed by the other.

9.     Finance and Operations

The parties to the agreement concur that financial negotiation concerning jobs and projects, that are the subject of special contracts between the contracting parties, are to remain within the domain of the contracting parties and do not have any bearing vis-à-vis individual employees. The dividing of salary payments and other costs in each instance is to be decided by negotiation in accordance with applicable rules or by special provisions. In individual subcontracts between the parties to this collaborative agreement and in connection with decisions, made by the collaborative committee, there are to be provisions on objectives, reciprocal obligations, division of costs and professional requirements, as applicable.

10. Promotion and General Discussion

Parties to the agreement will unify their efforts concerning the subjects of this agreement and strive to gather support for the development of the academic disciplines involved.

Support will be sought in ministries and appropriation authorities and also in corporations and other private parties to finance new positions that will be established at the academic institutes involved in this agreement.

It is to be ensured in all public coverage of the topics of the agreement and related projects that all parties to the agreement are mentioned.

Reykjavík, 12 October 2007