Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri The Comprehensive College in Akureyri

1. Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri The Comprehensive College in Akureyri

2. Welcome to VMA http://www.vma.is 9. september 2008

3. Akureyri – Eyjafjörður - Iceland

4. Information • Established 1984 • Number of staff 150 • Number of students 1350 • Distance learningstudents 700

5. General objectives • The role of colleges in Iceland is to prepare students for • further studies • employment • daily life

6. Our objectives in VMA: • Good school for all students • Variety and flexibility • Opportunities for top students • Support for students in need of extra supervision • Cooperation with student’s homes

7. 1st years students field trip

8. Good school for all students • Top students • Good tuition • Possibility to finish education in shorter time • Possibility to study in more than one department

9. Good school for all students • Students with special needs • Support and supervision • Introduction to vocational studies • Introduction to working environment and supervision and support at workplace.

10. Students with special needs

11. Departments • Vocational studies 1-5 years • Studies for matriculation examination 31/2 - 4 years • Art department 4 years • Preparation studies 1-2 years

12. Art department Design and textiles Fine arts Studies for matriculation examination Business Sociology Natural science Matriculation examination after vocational studies Departments

13. Vocational studies Housing (painters,plumbers, carpenters, cabinetmaker) Metalwork Electronics Auto mechanic Engineering Culinary Nurse assistants Sports Business Departments

14. Service for students in VMA • Students counseling (academic and personal tutoring) • School nurse • Project manager for kids at risk; drug- and drinking abuse prevention • Dormitory in cooperation with Menntaskólinn á Akureyri (Akureyri Junior College)

15. ISO 9001 • In May 2007 VMA got ISO 9001 licence for education in engineering. • That means that our engineering students have international licenses.

16. Art department, painting

17. Art department, color theory

18. Computer lesson

19. Metalwork, turning

20. Metalwork, welding

21. Metalwork, construction

22. Culinary department, cooking

23. Culinary department, waiter

24. Culinary department, waiter

25. Electricity, soldering

26. Electricity, calculation

27. Carpentry, sawing

28. Carpentry, drilling

29. Housing, industrial drawing

30. Students social life • Project manager for students social life • Two teachers work with the students board • Highlights of the year! • Students annual celebration • Students song contest • “open days” • Thursdays night events (boccia, coffie house, girls only party, boys only party, music night, etc.) • Various competitions e.g. sport, quiz show, speech competition and competitions in students study (vocational studies).

31. The theater group

32. Students song contest

33. The 1st year students invited to the school by the older students

34. Graduation celebration

35. Graduation

36. Iceland

37. Geology • Size: 103 000 sq km (38 000 sq miles) • Location: 63°24N-66°33N 13°30W-24°32W

39. Geology • Rugged, abrupt, jagged • Immense variety of scenery 200 volcanoes • 30 active since settlement • Eruption every fifth year • Frequent earthquakes but rarely harmful

40. Geology • Glaciers: 11.5% • Vegetation: 25.0% • Rocks, mountains, lava: 63.5% • Weather: • Reykjavík –0.4°C – 11.2°C • Akureyri -1.5°C - 10.9°C

41. Mt. Hekla

42. Krísuvík

43. Þingvellir

44. Hraun í Öxnadal

45. Vatnajökull

46. Lake Mývatn

47. Population • Population: 311 000 • Language: Icelandic • Ancestors: Scandinavian, Celtics • Settlement: in year 874 • More than half of the population lives in the greater Reykjavík area • C.a. 10% live in rural area • The rest lives in towns and villages scattered around the coast line

48. Akureyri • Location:Eyjafjörður on the north coast • Population:17 000 • Trade: Fishing, farming, industry and education Down town Akureyri during summer

49. Akureyri

50. Akureyri in late autumn