Reykjavik University signs a partnership agreement with Meet in Reykjavik
An agreement was signed between Meet in Reykjavík and Reykjavík University (RU), the University of Iceland, and the Iceland Academy of the Arts on April 9th. The aim of the agreement is to increase the number of international academic meetings and conferences held by universities in Iceland.
From left: Ari Kristinn Jónsson from RU, Jón Atli Benediktsson from University of Iceland, and Fríða Björk Ingvarsdóttir from Iceland Academy of the Arts, Dagur B. Eggertsson, the Mayor of Reykjavík, and Þorsteinn Örn Gunnarsson, Managing Director of Meet in Reykjavík.
Iceland has been focusing on formulating policies on issues pertaining to equal rights, geothermal energy and the Arctic region. This, for example, has resulted in increased interest in hosting meetings and conferences on these matters here in Iceland. Academic conferences are a good way to attract attention to the research work carried out by the universities, strengthen their reputation, and form relationships with overseas academics.
Meet in Reykjavík will assist university staff and their collaborators in preparations, information collection and contract preparations for international meetings and conferences. In addition, Meet in Reykjavík will provide information and hold presentations on the meeting and conference facilities of the universities for international associations and organisers of meetings and conferences.
Dagur B. Eggertsson, the Mayor of Reykjavík, says that a dynamic meeting and conference service supports the goals of the city to provide a diverse and vibrant trade sector. "We wish to develop the city as a higher education city and as a knowledge based community. An environment where enterprises are given excellent opportunities to grow and prosper. One can say, therefore, that many objectives coalesce in the agreement that has now been signed." Þorsteinn Örn Guðmundsson, the Managing Director of Meet in Reykjavík says that the agreement is an important step in strengthening Reykjavík as an international conference destination. "We have had good relations with the universities in recent years and are interested in expanding on our collaboration and making greater efforts to seek suitable projects for the destination and the university community here in Iceland."
