Iceland
- New Quality Board for Icelandic Higher Education established in 2010/11 and development of mandatory institutional accreditation on a five-year basis
Organisational autonomy: medium low
The law requires that the executive head’s appointment and dismissal are formally validated by the ministry. The rector’s term of office is stated in the law, as is the procedure for their dismissal. Universities can select part of the external members on their governing bodies, with the rest appointed by the ministry. Guidelines exist in the law for the academic structures of Icelandic universities. Universities are able to establish legal entities but they have to be established or be closed with permission of the ministry and their work has to relate to university missions.
Financial autonomy: medium low
Universities may freely allocate internally the public funding they receive. They may keep surpluses with the approval of the ministry. Public universities are not allowed to borrow money directly. With the exception of the University of Iceland, most university buildings are owned by the government and cannot be sold without its approval. Public universities may not charge tuition fees at any degree level for national and foreign students, but may collect registration fees under a ceiling set by the government.
Academic autonomy: medium high
Universities negotiate with the government on overall student numbers. Universities can only open programmes in the study fields for which they have been accredited. Institutional accreditation is mandatory and carried out by the national agency. At Bachelor level universities face restrictions regarding the language of instruction for certain programmes.
Staffing autonomy: medium high
Universities are autonomous in the recruitment and promotion of senior academic and administrative staff. Salary bands are set through central negotiations between unions and the government. Dismissals are strictly regulated due to the civil servant status of staff.
Organisational weighted 49% unweighted 45%
0% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority
This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
100% Selection criteria for the executive head
The selection criteria for the executive head are not stated in the law
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Wallonia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
40% Dismissal of the executive head
The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority and the procedure is stated in the law
This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain
0% Term of office of the executive head
The exact length is stated in the law
57% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
External members are partly appointed by the university and partly by an external authority
60% Capacity to decide on academic structures
60% Capacity to create legal entities
Financial weighted 60% unweighted 55%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
100% Type of public funding
Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding
This applies to 15 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money with other types of restrictions
This applies to 3 other countries: Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom
80% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept but the approval of an external authority is needed
This applies to 2 other countries: Luxembourg, Portugal
60% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority
This applies to 5 other countries: Croatia, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
This applies to 4 other countries: Hungary, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority
40% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Staffing weighted 68% unweighted 67%
100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Finland, Hesse, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway
0% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 11 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 13 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 78% unweighted 77%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
60% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
Other restrictions
60% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
Other restrictions
60% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Other restrictions
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
83% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes
This applies to one other country: Lithuania
100% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
0% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes
Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)
This applies to 25 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom