University Centre of the South / UCSI

University Centre of the South (icelandic: Háskólafélag Suðurlands) is a company owned by 14 municipalities in South Iceland. It was founded in 2007 with the aim of improving access to education in the area, especially regarding tertiary education. Another focus of the company is regional development in the area.

In 2011-2013 UCSI took part in a Grundtvig project dealing with handicrafts, and in 2010-2013 in two projects funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, called Nordic GeoGuide School. All of these projects had an emphasis on designing and carrying out courses for the target group in question.

In 2012-2014 UCSI was awarded an IPA Grant from the EU, called Katla Geopark: Regional development for the Eyjafjallajökull area. In that project heavy emphasis was on creating educational material and courses for the inhabitants of the Geopark focusing on innovation, leadership and local guiding.

UCSI has  in recent years put more emhasis on direct contact with the different types of industries in the area with the aim of providing new educational opportunities for key staff, both for the benefit of the individuals and also the companies involved. An example of this emhasis is a pilot course being taught now for people working in the food processing sector with a focus on innovation and management. The graduation of the first group of students will be on May 4, 2015. UCSI has strong links with the university sector in Iceland, having board members both from the University of Iceland and the Agricultural University of Iceland, and the board has also a member from one of the larger adult education provider in Iceland.

For further information visit www.hfsu.is