The Learning Centre in Akureyri was established in 1994 and is run by Akureyri
municipality. The organisation of study and instructional practices are based on
the same ideology as the Folk High schools in the Nordic countries. Within the
Leraning Centre several individual projects are run, those are: the Women´s
Educational Centre and Educational Centre for Young People, both approximately 4
months long course similar to one semester at a Folk High School; The Job Club,
a 4 weeks long course for unemployed people, funded mostly by the Empolyment
affice; The Intercultural Centre, a service centre for residents in Akureyri of
foreign origin.
The initial project of the Learning Centre was the Women’s Educational Centre
and continuous to be it’s main project. The first 16 week-long course for women
was held in the fall of 1994. The incentive came from Valgerður H. Bjarnadóttir,
who at that time served as the representative for education and gender equality,
for Akureyri municipality. She had the support of the local authority and
several individuals who were interested in the project. Women’s unemployment had
reached a record high during that year and there was clearly a need to find a
way to support women without a job.
Although mostly funded by Akureyri municipality, several organisations and
institutions have supported the project financially such as Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Social Affairs, Women’s Employment Fund, The Vocational
Training-Fund, The Red Cross, Employment offices and more.
However, today’s financial situation is that no funds are received from the
Ministries and the Centre is funded almost solely by Akureyri municipality,
although still some funds are received from the Employment Office and a few of
the neighbouring municipalities.
Since the fall of 1994, each year two 16 week long courses have been held, one
spring session and one fall session, 15 sessions in all. The total number of
women who have studied in The Women’s Educational Centre is 320.
The ideology and experience, on which the courses are based comes mostly from
the Scandinavian “folk-high schools” and has been adjusted to Icelandic ways and
culture.
Three different components make up the structure of the course, those are:
self-empowerment and communication
creativity, expression and women’s culture
practical subjects, both academic and vocational, such as Icelandic, computer
skills, and English
The three components are integrated and together they form a plaid of learning
that focuses on helping the women manage their lives better and succeed in
following their dreams.
The courses do not have a set curriculum and neither homework nor tests.
This approach motivates the individual to take the initiative and stimulates
towards strengthening her social network. Thus the individual will have gained
the necessary strength to tackle a new job and/or furthering her education.
The course is geared to fit the needs of each group. Democracy in action is a
vital factor in the everyday work at the Women’s Educational Centre, which means
that the participants take part in formulating and developing the arrangement of
the course and the daily set-up. Thus the students experience themselves as more
active and responsible participants.
The Women’s Educational Centre is contributing to gender equality, by activating
women as citizens and by providing a self-empowerment course for women. The
women who attend the course do not need any educational background to
participate, however priority is given to unemployed women, disabled women,
young mothers and expecting mothers, in addition the course is open to all
women.
Until August of 2001 the Centre was in charge of vocational training for
Akureyri municipality.
Since then the Union-contracts have changed so the municipality is no longer
required to offer such training.
In January 2002, a new project started at the Learning Centre, called the
Educational Centre for Young People. This project is based on the same ideology
as the Educational Centre for Women, but geared toward people at the age of
17-25 years, of both genders. Since the start of this new project the Women’s
Educational Centre is offered every fall semester (September – December) and the
Educational Centre for Young People is offered every spring semester (January –
May).
Since the establishment of the Learning Centre in Akureyri workshops of similar
kind have been put up in 4 other regions of Iceland and the total number of
women who have attended is about 350 women, including the ones in Akureyri.
60-70% of the women who have attended the Women’s Learning Centre in Akureyri
have joined the working force within six months and 20-30% of them have
continued to study.
It seems clear from the experience at the Learning Centre in Akureyri that
non-traditional studies produce stronger individuals, who have greater
self-esteem, are feeling better and are able to cope with the challenges of
their daily lives better. They are both more competent and more confident and
are therefore more likely to find job and/or continue their education toward a
degree, if that is their desire.
