Six Icelandic rectors reject claims EU bought academics’ loyalty

Six university rectors have rejected claims that the European Union bought the loyalty of academics who secured grants from European competitive funding programmes, mbl.is reported on Thursday.

The rectors were responding to comments made recently by Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson, professor emeritus, on the Spursmál programme, where he discussed the EU’s activities in Iceland.

“Of course, the European Union has made its presence felt somewhat here in Iceland. For example, many of those who are the main advocates for the European Union in Iceland are directly employed by the European Union,” Gissurarson said on the programme.

In an opinion article published in Morgunblaðið, the six rectors said it was wrong to conclude that EU grants had purchased the loyalty of the academics who obtained them.

“The conclusion is incorrect,” they wrote, responding to an earlier article that claimed supporters of EU membership had received money from the bloc.

The signatories are Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir, rector of the University of Akureyri; Kristín Eysteinsdóttir, rector of the Iceland University of the Arts; Ólína Kjerúlf Þorvarðardóttir, rector of Bifröst University; Ragnheiður I. Þórarinsdóttir, rector of the Agricultural University of Iceland; Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, rector of Reykjavík University; and Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, rector of the University of Iceland.

They said research findings are often viewed with suspicion when studies are directly funded by interested parties, because it is easy to imagine that unfavourable results could be put away if they do not suit the funder.

However, they said the grants in question came through the EU’s general exchange, innovation and research programmes. All universities in Iceland, as well as various institutions and companies, have received such grants, they wrote.

Iceland has for years been among the countries making the greatest use of opportunities for student and staff exchanges offered through European cooperation. Icelandic researchers in all academic fields have also successfully applied for international European competitive research funding, according to the rectors.

They added that foreign research grants were not evidence of loyalty to particular political views, but recognition of the professional quality of the research and the researchers’ ability to meet international standards.

“There is reason to celebrate that achievement, not view it with suspicion,” the rectors wrote.