Bifröst University

Bifröst University

Háskólinn á Bifröst
Logo of Bifröst University.
Former names	Samvinnuskólinn (the Cooperative College)
Type	private; non-profit
Established	1918
Rector	Vilhjálmur Egilsson
Students	ca. 1,000
Location	Borgarbyggð , Iceland
Campus	Rural
Colors	Blue
Website	http://www.bifrost.is/

Bifröst University is located in the valley of Norðurárdalur, approximately 30 kilometers north of Borgarnes, Iceland. Originally a business school, it also offers degrees in law and social sciences. As of 2007, the university has approximately 560 full-time resident students in its bachelors, masters and preparatory programs, with 700 other non-resident students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees. A village, also called Bifröst, has grown up around the university. Bifröst University is the only Campus Village in Iceland.

Bifröst University as seen from a nearby volcano

History

The university was founded in Reykjavík in 1918 as a secondary school called the Cooperative College (Samvinnuskólinn). The school was run by the Icelandic cooperative movement (Samband íslenskra samvinnufélaga) and was originally intended as a training college for the staff of cooperative stores and other members of the movement. The founder and first head of the school was Jónas Jónsson from Hrifla, who was for many years a member of Parliament for the Progressive Party. He had studied at Askov folk high school in Denmark and Ruskin College in Oxford, and his ideas about education were innovative for the time.

In 1955 the school moved to its present location in the countryside. Within walking distance of campus are Lake Hreðavatn, the waterfall Glanni, and the volcanic cones of Grábrók and Grábrókarfell. At first, the school offered a two-year residential program in retail management for students aged roughly sixteen to eighteen. During the 1980s and the 1990s, the school slowly transformed into a university-level institution offering diploma and bachelor's programs in business.

In 1998, a tunnel was opened which reduced the driving time from Reykjavík to Bifröst to around an hour and a half, changes in Icelandic society increased the demand for higher education, and new legislation authorized universities to charge fees. Bifröst took advantage of these developments, expanded its programs and student numbers considerably, and began charging tuition to students in addition to receiving state support.

In 2006, the institution's name was changed from Bifröst School of Business to Bifröst University.

Facilities

Bifröst University offers some free-time activities. It has a soccer field and a basketball field. The gym includes a hot tub, sauna and solarium. A room located next to the gym is equipped with a billiard table, ping-pong table, indoor golf course and tabletop soccer table.

Also located on the campus is a grocery store - Samkaup Strax.