Research strategy

Research strategy of LHÍ

At the University of the Arts, diverse research is carried out, working with a variety of materials, forms and media. Through artistic creation, new research methods are developed. There is freedom and scope for research in an environment where different approaches, topics and presentations are respected.

Points of emphasis

• Strengthen research culture in the academic field of art.
• Strengthen the relationship between teaching and research at the university.
• Strengthen the research infrastructure and increase the visibility of knowledge creation in the academic field of art.
• Promote interdisciplinary relationships and research within the master's program.
• Start a PhD in Arts.

The goal of the University of the Arts is to strengthen the research culture in the academic field of art and gain a greater share in the research community in Iceland. Emphasis is placed on securing funding for the university's research activities, strengthening the research infrastructure and creating a framework where diverse approaches and methods are developed based on the principles of the arts. In this way, the relationship between research, study and teaching will be further strengthened. We work purposefully to increase the number of contact points with society and strengthen the connection between the local context and the global environment.

The implementation of the focus points is based on the following guidelines:

1. Strengthening infrastructure and research culture
2. Integration of research and teaching
3. Strengthening master's programs and introducing doctoral programs in the arts

Below is a more detailed discussion of each of the focus points that are guided by LHÍ's research policy and priority projects.

1. Strengthening research culture and research infrastructure

The main focus of the University of the Arts' research policy is to ensure the continued development of research work in the academic field of art. The university has placed increased emphasis on external funding in recent years, along with the strengthening of research infrastructure and the establishment of a department of academic development.

Ways that support the development of infrastructure and research culture:

• The internal organization and framework of research work strengthened with regard to ideological synergy across disciplines, eg through the creation of thematic research clusters.
• Implementation of a formal evaluation system for research output that ensures professional peer review and supportive feedback.
• Increased support for making applications in public competition funds.
• The University of the Arts' internal competition funds will be strengthened.
• Encourage the dissemination of research in a variety of ways and on different platforms.
• The preservation of research projects is guaranteed, and a policy on open access to research results will be formulated.
• Increased access to electronic databases and sources.
• Greater emphasis will be placed on participation in international and national collaborative projects with universities, cultural institutions and companies on a professional level.
• Hosting of postdoctoral projects and research projects supported by external funds.
• The number of research licenses will be increased.
• Increased funding for research will be guaranteed.

2. Integration of research and teaching

Emphasis is placed on the university's teaching and learning community being increasingly shaped by the research and expertise of academic staff. By promoting a research culture within the university and an open forum for conversation about research across departments and disciplines, students gain better insight into the focus and development in research in the field of art. Likewise, it is important to guarantee academic staff the scope to carry out research on a broad basis, whether it is artistic research, academic research or work-related research, which is suitable for strengthening university teachers in their work.

Ways that promote the integration of research and teaching:

• Workshops, technical laboratories and workshops will be strengthened as a place for research.
• Students will receive increased research training and increased emphasis will be placed on their independent research projects.
• Students will have the opportunity to participate in and gain insight into the research work of academic staff.
• Academic staff will receive increased support, encouragement and scope to practice

3. Promotion of master's studies and introduction of doctoral studies in arts

Strategic cooperation with foreign and national universities contributes to a wider conversation and criteria for the structure of research in the academic field of art in Iceland. Emphasis is placed on building formal research collaborations with foreign partner universities and other universities, cultural institutions and companies in Iceland. The aim is to be able to offer doctoral studies in the arts within a few years.

• Research-based master's programs will be strengthened and synergy across disciplines will be increased.
• Cooperation on elective courses at master's level with other national universities.
• Increasing the number of opportunities for shorter study stays and joint courses and research workshops with foreign universities.
• Doctoral studies in arts will be started.

The research policy of the University of the Arts is the framework according to which the departments' action plans are drawn up. In the departments, projects are then prioritized in favor of their needs and interests and the disciplines at each time.