Applied archival studies fall under the Department of Philosophy, History and Archaeology. The programme is intended for those interested in working with archives or researching them, as well as for those employed in records management and archival administration in institutions and companies. The aim is to link the studies to practical, real-world projects and to support professionals in their work. The programme’s organizers have maintained strong cooperation with regional archives across the country on student projects. More than 50 students from diverse academic backgrounds have completed the programme since 2020.

Responsibility for the programme lies with a lecturer in archival studies who holds an 80% position at the University of Iceland and a 20% position at the National Archives. The lecturer’s role includes teaching and supervising students in individual projects and research-based postgraduate studies. A number of adjunct instructors from the staff of the National Archives have also contributed to teaching over the years and will continue to do so under the new agreement.

The agreement also provides for closer integration of history teaching at the University of Iceland with the activities of the National Archives of Iceland, to facilitate mutual academic exchange on the preservation, dissemination, and publication of sources and data relating to Iceland’s history. The intention is to define projects based on archival sources held by the National Archives and on the expertise of its staff, as well as that of students and faculty at the University of Iceland.

Applications are now open for the micro-credential programme in applied archival studies for the next academic year, with a deadline of June 5.

In the photo above, from left: Professor Sverrir Jakobsson, Professor Valur Ingimundarson, Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland, Helga Jóna Eiríksdóttir, Lecturer in Archival Studies and Archivist, Hrefna Róbertsdóttir, National Archivist, Kristján Þorvaldsson, Director of Operations at the National Archives, and Brynhildur Ingvarsdóttir, Head of Public Engagement and Publishing at the National Archives.

Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland and Hrefna Róbertsdóttir, National Archivist,

Helga Jóna Eiríksdóttir, an archivist at the National Archives and a lecturer in archival studies at the University of Iceland, leads the programme and spoke about it at the signing of the agreement. She is pictured with Brynhildur Ingvarsdóttir, Head of Public Engagement and Publishing at the National Archives.

Photographer: Kristinn Ingvarsson