From left: Margrét Jónsdóttir, Rector of Bifrost University, Ólína Kjerúlf Þorvarðardóttir Dean of Department of Social Science, Kasper Kristensen, Director of Research and Susanne Arthur the OpenEU Institutional Coordinator
January 29. 2025Bifröst and the OpenEU Partnership – Building Something Important
Bifröst University is one of the partner institutions in the OpenEU university alliance, a collaboration of European academic institutions and associated organisations supported by the European Commission. The aim of the partnership is to create a pan-European open university that harnesses digital learning for the benefit of communities. A particular emphasis is placed on increasing participation among minority groups and those with limited access to higher education.
The OpenEU Project Has Begun
On 16–17 January, representatives from the ten universities forming the OpenEU alliance gathered in Barcelona for the project’s inaugural meeting. This marked the official launch of a four-year initiative to establish a shared, open, pan-European university. Representing Bifröst University at the meeting were Dr Margrét Jónsdóttir Njarðvík, Rector; Dr Ólína Kjerúlf Þorvarðardóttir, Dean of the School of Social Sciences; Dr Kasper Simo Kristensen, Head of Research and Administration; and Dr Susanne Arthur, OpenEU Project Manager.
The collaboration is led by Dr Pastora Martínez Samper of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. At the opening meeting, she compared the university alliance to the beautiful Catalan tradition known as the Castell — a human tower. Just as every Castell requires a strong and stable base, the OpenEU partnership must build solid foundations through close cooperation. Only then can the alliance achieve its ambitious goals.
Castell – photo by Toni Solé, via Flickr
University of Bifröst’s Role
Although Bifröst University is the smallest of the ten partner universities in terms of student and staff numbers, its contribution to the collaboration is nonetheless significant. The university will lead the work package focused on societal impact and will participate in several other areas, including the development of joint study programmes and micro-credentials, with an emphasis on three key fields: climate action, digital transformation and democracy.
More than 368,000 students and 24,000 academics, researchers and staff within the partner institutions will benefit from the OpenEU alliance through enhanced opportunities for lifelong learning and employability, mobility and workplace adaptability.
It will be exciting to follow how OpenEU evolves and strengthens transnational learning and research, while creating new opportunities for students and staff at Bifröst University — in Iceland, across Europe, and beyond.