National Reforms in Higher Education
Many different acts and regulations form the legislative framework for higher education in Iceland. The most prominent is the Higher Education Institution Act No. 63/2006 which "applies to educational institutions providing higher education leading to a degree and which have been accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education Science and Innovation" (Higher Education Institution Act no. 63/2006, Article 1), and the Act on Public Higher Education Institutions Act No. 85/2008, which applies to the University of Iceland, the University of Akureyri, the Agricultural University of Iceland, and Hólar University College, all of which operate as public higher education institutions accountable to the Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education. Other legislation fall under the realm of higher education, such as the Rules on Pertaining to Quality Assurance of Learning, Teaching and Research in Higher Education No. 1165/2024, the Rules on the Procedure of the Board of Appeal for Student Complaints at Higher Education Institutions No. 550/2020, and the Act on Public Support for Research No. 3/2003.
2024
In April 2024, with Act. No. 31/2024, an amendment to the Higher Education Act. No. 63/2006 was passed by the Parliament of Iceland, Althingi. Firstly, the minimum number of ECTS credits for a short cycle qualification was increased from 30 credits to 60 credits. Secondly, micro-credentials for ECTS credits were introduced and defined, as part of a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral studies. Micro-credentials had previously not been specified in the Higher Education Act. No. 63/2006, and are now defined as a short study or individual courses that lead to ECTS credits and are subject to all quality assurance requirements for studies at the tertiary level. Thirdly, the possibility of exciting with an M.Phil degree at the doctoral level was added. An overview of recognized qualifications and final examinations, which are currently contained in Article 7 of the Act, was transferred to the National Qualification Framework for Higher Education issued by the Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, in accordance with Article 5 of the Act.
In October a National Qualification Framework for Higher Education came into force. The framework was introduced in 2022 and the key changes include Iceland's higher education institutions being able to offer micro-credentials; minimum ECTS credits for short cycle qualifications were increased from 30 ECTS to 60 ECTS; the possibility to exit with M. Phil degree was introduced and Recognition of Prior Learning was included in the National Qualification Framework (NQF) for Higher Education in Iceland.
Rules on Pertaining to Quality assurance of Learning, Teaching and Research in Higher Education No. 1165/2024 came into force in September 2024 and repealed Rules No. 1368/2018. The name of the Quality Board was changed to the Icelandic Agency for Quality Assurance (IAQA). Along with the name change the structure was also changed to make a clear division between the secretariat and the council, such as the number of council members was reduced, the role of council members were changed and the Council's supervision of internal evaluation was reduced in the light of the maturity of the Higher Education Institutions systems. The current framework stipulates that the IAQA shall conduct external reviews of the quality of each higher education institution on a regular basis and no less than every five years. By doing so the IAQA can more easily meet the criterion stated in the European Standards and Guidelines (2015) that quality assessment bodies should themselves undergo an assessment every five years (standard 3.7 Cyclical External Review of Agencies).
Criteria for Accreditation of Higher Education Institution in Iceland were published in English in 2022 and in Icelandic in 2024. These guidelines pertain to all education institutions seeking initial accreditation as higher education institutions, in the context of the Higher Education Act. No. 63/2006, Accreditation Rules No. 1067/2006, and Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015). The guidelines contain descriptions of elements and legal criteria that are relevant for accreditation reviews and benchmarking and indicates what must be included in an application to make it eligible for consideration by the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.
2023
There were no major reforms.
2022
Guidelines for accrediting HEIs in Iceland were issued. These guidelines apply to all institutions seeking initial accreditation under the Higher Education Act No. 63/2006 and the European Higher Education Area standards (ESG 2015), with the aim of providing a framework for institutions to develop their quality assurance processes and for agencies to conduct evaluation as well as to enhancing trust, mobility, and recognition between higher education systems in Europe.
The guidelines outline the necessary elements and legal criteria for accreditation reviews and applications to the HEI's authorities. They detail what should be included in applications under the Accreditation Rules No. 1067/2006, helping institutions meet both national and European standards.