The University of the Faroe Islands was founded in 1965 by members of the Faroese Scientific Society, founded in 1952. Among their activities, the Society published a scientific periodical and carried out comprehensive work on the compilation of Faroese vocabulary. The university began with one professor, Christian Matras, and a registrar, Maud Heinesen. In its first years the school offered one-year courses in natural history and Faroese for teachers. In addition to the yearly courses, the university arranged for a collection committee with the task of preserving all Faroese folk culture. Today this material is in the archives of the Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature. A further committee was appointed in 1972 to collect Faroese hymns and spiritual ballads. On 1 August 2008 the Faroese School of Education and the Faroese School of Nursing were incorporated into the University, becoming its departments.
Organisation and administration
The University of the Faroe Islands is administered by a Board of Directors made up by of seven members. Four of its members are appointed directly by the minister while the remaining three are appointed on recommendation from the university. The Board of Directors is responsible for appointing the rector. The seat of the rector is currently held by Chik Collins. The University of the Faroe Islands is publicly funded. In 2010 the University's was allocated 68,178,000 DKK by the government. Apart from the government the university also gets funding for specific projects from the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation as well as from the private sector. The university is a member of UArctic.
Academic profile
The University of the Faroe Islands is divided in two faculties: The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and the Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences. The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education is divided in the Department of Faroese Language and Literature, the Department of Education, and the Department of History and Social Sciences, while the Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences is divided in the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Nursing. The University offers a total of ten different Bachelor's degrees:
BA Faroese Language and Literature
BSc History
BSc Social Analysis and Planning
BSc Politics and Administration
Bachelor of Education in Education with Primary and Lower Secondary School Teacher Qualification
Bachelor of Education in Social Education with Social Educator Qualification
MA/MSc West Nordic Studies, Governance and Sustainable Management.
For 2010 there were reported 146 students in the Department of Nursing. A further 266 students were reported in the Department of Education Finally there were 146 undergraduate students, 23 postgraduate students, 5 Ph.D. candidates, and 65 students who took single courses or minor subjects in the other departments.
Research
Research is a priority of the University of the Faroe Islands. Its mission is to increase knowledge within the university and in Faroese society. Research is focused on various fields including linguistics and literature of Faroese language, education, didactics, competitiveness, democracy, weather, tidal streams, waves and aquaculture. The Research Center for Social Development is an institution connected with the university which undertakes 3 to 5-year research projects.
Noted people
Christian Matras, founder and first professor of the university.
