ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES WITHIN IUA

Within the Iceland University of the Arts, organizational changes have been carried out in recent months with the aim of strengthening the university's administration, while at the same time increasing the dean's scope for artistic policy-making in each art discipline. Two positions have been established, on the one hand, Dean of school for the department of music and performing arts, and on other the Dean of school for the departments of architecture, design and visual arts. The third position, the field of academic development and research, will be established at the beginning of next year, which includes the art education department and the development of master's programs across the university.

It is clear that a great deal of development work in education in the arts has taken place during the two decades that the Iceland University of the Arts has been operating. The changes that are currently being implemented are part of ongoing development that aims to ensure that this interdisciplinary university meets the demands of today for flexible learning that is based on progress across arts and other sciences, in addition to deepening the uniqueness and quality of learning in each art form itself.

 

Here you can read more about the Dean of school and Dean of departments as well as a short summary of new appointments to these positions.

 

The deans of school work on the interdisciplinary goals of the Iceland University of the Arts together with the rector, are responsible for academic development, implement the policy of the university and supervise teaching and research. They manage the operations of their departments and take care of their management and finances.

Þóra Einarsdóttir holds an MA degree in Arts Education from Iceland University of the Arts, and a master's degree in opera from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Þóra is a leading artist in her field and has an extensive career in Iceland and abroad. Her professional practice has been centred around operatic performances in opera houses and theatres as an ensemble member or as a guest artist, as well as performing with orchestras and in recitals. Þóra has substantial experience in academic work and teaching at the university level. She has taught at the IUA since 2008, first as a part-time lecturer and supervisor and since 2014 as

 

Eva María Árnadóttir completed an MSc degree in General Management from the Stockholm School of Economics and a BA degree in Fashion Design from the Iceland University of the Arts. She worked as a Head Designer, Production Manager and Product Development Specialist in Iceland and abroad in the years 2009 - 2017 and has extensive management experience from those jobs.

Eva María has worked for the Iceland University of the Arts (IUA) since 2011. Eva María sits on the professional council of the Icelandic Fashion Council and on the board of the Textile Laboratory at the School of Education at the University of Iceland. Eva María is also a former chairman of the Alumni Association at IUA and sat on its behalf in the Academic Council of the IUA.

 

The dean of the departments is responsible for the artistic and academic policy-making of their faculty and its implementation in studies, teaching and research. They are the head of the academic staff of the faculty in question. They are responsible for the administration of students' affairs and have decision-making power within the faculty in matters concerning the student's academic career and academic progress.

 

Hildigunnur holds a Cand. Arch. Degree from Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole in Copenhagen and has worked as a designer in architectural firms as well as working independently as a researcher, consultant and artistic director in the field of architecture and man-made environments. Hildigunnur has extensive experience in teaching and academic work. She has been a part-time lecturer at the Iceland University of the Arts since 2006. She has been a visiting lecturer in many countries, e.g. at Yale School of Architecture, Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole in Copenhagen, KTH in Stockholm, UIB in Bergen and UCLA and MIT Universities in the United States.

 

Kristín completed a PhD degree from the University of Iceland in 2019 with a dissertation on the learning process of becoming art educators. She holds an M.Ed. Degree in pedagogy from the Iceland University of Education, a Diploma as Musik- und Bewegung Erzhiehung from the Orff Institut in Salzburg and a B.Ed. Degree with an emphasis on music education from the Iceland University of Education. She has managed the research centre of Art Education at the Iceland University of the Arts (IUA) since its establishment and has publicly disseminated her work in the field at home and abroad.

Kristín has extensive, comprehensive teaching experience at the university level and spans her teaching career for three decades. She has held the position of Dean of the Department of Art Education and Director of Music Education since 2009 and played a significant role in building a master's program in pedagogy for artists at the IUA. Kristín is a leading force in art education in the country.

Paul Bennett is IDEO’s Chief Creative Officer as well as a dean here at the IUA. Paul works with clients, partners, and colleagues to bring to market human-centric, commercially successful, and socially significant new businesses, products, services, and experiences. He is responsible for content excellence across IDEO and is active in developing and publishing new thinking in the field of human-centred and design-led innovation.

 A keen educator, Paul has taught and coached students from KHiO - Oslo National Academy of the Arts, the Royal College of Art (UK), Stanford University, Columbia Business School, and FIT’s (Fashion Institute of Technology, New York).

Steinunn holds a BSc. in Business Administration from Reykjavík University since 2002 and in 2005 she earned a BA in Dance from Hunter College in New York. In 2016 she graduated with a Masters degree in Performance Studies from NYU Tisch School of Arts where she was honoured with the Performance Studies Award upon graduation. 

Steinunn has been an active member of the independent dance scene in Iceland and was involved in the development of Reykjavík Dance Festival and the founding of Reykjavík Dance Atelier. She continues to be dedicated to creating platforms and contexts to connect the local dance community.  

Steinunn has been involved with the Performing Arts Department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts since 2007 as a guest teacher, adjunct, research fellow and the program director of the International Dance Program.  

 

 

In addition is their colleuges Sigrún Inga Hrólfsdóttir Dean of Fine Arts and Tryggvi M. Baldvinsson Dean of Music.