RHA welcomes new employees

 

In the past few weeks several new employees have joined RHA.  There are now 17 people in 13 full time positions at the institution in addition to RHA housing one position for the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. That position is held by Tómas Þór Tómasson who is working on the 2nd  stage of the Master plan for hydro and geothermal energy resources.

New employee at the Research administration

Ólína Freysteinsdóttir, project manager for Research administration RHA, will soon start her maternity leave. From this point forward, Hjalti S. Hjaltason (hjaltih@unak.is) will act as project manager for Research administration RHA along side Ólína and in her absence.

Seminar on older emploees

September 25 The Directorate of Labour's task force on 50+ held a seminar on older emploees on the labour market. Hjalti Jóhannesson of RHA and Kjartan Ólafsson of UNAK/RHA presented a paper on older emploees in the times of structural change in the economy in the Icelandic countryside. Their presentation drew heavily on two projects, i.e. an ongoing project monitoring the socio-economic impacts of aluminum plant and hydro project in east Iceland and the research project How to make a living in Insular Areas - Six Nordic Cases completed 2006 under the management of Nordregio.

Participation in European Researchers' Night

Three of RHA's staff, Gunnhildur Helgadóttir, Hjalti Jóhannesson and Tryggvi Hallgrímsson participated in European Researchers' Night September 26.  The broad scope of RHA's research projects was presented. An active part in the event was taken by the public and diverse intitutes were represented.  Rannís, The Icelandic Centre for Research organized the event which was held in downtown Reykjavík.

Report on cultural housing

September 22, 2008 Hjalti Jóhannesson and Valtýr Sigurbjarnarson of RHA presented their report on housing needs for cultural activities in the largest municipality in south Iceland, Árborg.  The purpose of the report is to assist in future planning of cultural activities in the municipality and region as well as the planning of the centre of town Selfoss.

Wholesomeness of seafood

Guðrún Rósa Þórsteinsdóttir, director of RHA and Helgi Laxdal, chairman of the board of Iceland‘s Fisheries Association signed on the 28th of August a contract for a project that is intended to disseminate information about the wholesomeness of seafood. The objective of the project is also to bring attention to the fishing industry, a very important industry to us Icelanders.

REKENE - Regional Trajetories to the Knowledge Economy - Nordic-European Comparisons

RHA is a research partner in a Nordic Research and development project on the role of knowledge in regional economic development. The project commenced in 2007 and will finalize in 2010. The other Icelandic partner in the project is AFE, The Akureyri Region Business Agency. The project is funded by NICe, Nordic Innovation Centre and the lead partner is the institute Nordregio in Sweden. Contact at RHA is Hjalti Jóhannesson, hjalti@unak.is

Here you can find a press release on the project and short information.

RHA has finished work on the Tea for two project

The project began officially on the 1st of October 2006. The first seven months focused on developing a tool for data collection and measurement while the latter half focused on writing reports for publication. The project was trans-national and involved five European countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Iceland and Norway.

The project was supported by the European community – Programme relating to the community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001-2005).

12,8 million isk grant from NPP

RHA, FMSÍ and UST have received funding from the European Union as participants of a project which is a part of a new Northern Periphery Programmer – NPP. The grant is 12,8 million isk and is distributed on a three year basis. Total amount of Icelandic part of the project is 25,3 million isk.  The Research Centre of the University of Akureyri is the head supervisor of the project ”North Hunt, Sustainable Hunting Tourism - business opportunity”. The project is collaboration between , , and (Newfoundland and Labrador ). The goal of the project is to support the development of sustainable hunting for the enhancement of the economy and residence with emphasis on the hunting culture. The emphasis is on the dissemination of experience and knowledge between participants and to explore the possibility of a joint marketing of the name ”Northern brand” for sustainable hunting. Other parties to the project include The Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, Wildlife management department of The Environment Agency and others.

RHA's new Director

Guðrún Rósa Þórsteinsdóttir is the new director of RHA - The Research Centre of the University of Akureyri, taking over from Jón Ingi Benediktsson who had been acting director for one year. Guðrún Rósa holds a Ph.D. from the Göteborg University and has worked at the Research Centre since 2006. At RHA she has supervised research assessment at the University of Akureyri, taken part in research studies and appraisal of distant learning in Iceland and abroad and worked as the director of the Northern Research Forum secretariat in Iceland.