Faroe Islands plan law changes to expand higher education

The Ministry of Education plans to amend the law governing the University of the Faroe Islands to allow broader higher education programmes, KVF reports.

The proposal follows the development of a diploma programme in pedagogy. It gives students professional qualifications to work in the pedagogical field, although it is not a full bachelor’s degree.

A continuing education programme for primary and lower secondary school teachers is also being prepared. These programmes will be organised as master’s degrees.

The amendments would allow the university to establish programmes that it currently has no legal authority to offer. The Ministry of Education says the changes could eventually provide better tools for creating more flexible programmes and greater connections between different courses of study.

The proposal also includes stronger quality assurance requirements. Existing practice concerning standalone courses would be written into the law.

Under another proposed change, the university could award honorary doctorates to people who have made an exceptional contribution to cultural life and had a special significance for Faroese society.

The current legislation dates from 2008 and was amended in 2012.