University of Iceland To Be among the World’s Top Ten

The University of Iceland held a graduation ceremony recently for bachelor and masters students. At the ceremony two years ago, the rector announced the new goals for the university. In this year’s graduation speech she took the goals from 2006 even further.

Two years ago, Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, the rector of the University of Iceland announced that the university would aim at to be among the top 100 universities in the world before 2011, when the university celebrates its 100th anniversary.

More recentky she announced new and even more challenging goals. The university is still aiming for a seat on the top 100 list, but Ingólfsdóttir’s envisions going even further and now the goal is to get one of the university’s five faculties on the top ten list. Fréttabladid reports.

There has been a lot of discussion on how to fund such ambitious goals, with the central issue of whether the University of Iceland should charge tuition. According to Icelandic law, the state university may not charge tuition, but Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament, has made some changes in the legal framework surrounding universities so there is a legal possibility for charging school fees. However, the university’s administration has not yet made any decision on the matter. Ingólfsdóttir made no comments as to whether she would support the use of tuition.

Posted on July 1, 2008 in Culture | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

Sigur Rós, Björk Perform Free Show for Iceland

Native Icelanders Björk and Sigur Rós are joining forcing to perform a free concert in their home country at the end of the month in a bid to increase recognition of the growing environmental issues and natural image of Iceland.

On June 28th, both rock acts will play an outdoors show in Reykjavik, Iceland at the Botanical Garden on Laugavegur. They will be accompanied by artists such as Ólöf Arnalds, who is also from Iceland, and a few other artists from outside of the nation. Björk told the Icelandic publication Morgunbladid that the country is behind in being environmentally-friendly and needs to start incorporating 'green thinking' into what it does. The building of more dams and aluminum factories is one factor that continues to hinder progress so new options should perhaps be considered, the 42-year-old musician stated.

Last year, Björk released her sixth studio record entitled Volta, which was nominated at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Sigur Rós are coming out with their fifth full-length album, Með suð ' eyrum við spilum endalaust (which means "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly" in English) at the end of this month on the 23rd of June. Meanwhile, Ólöf Arnalds released her debut album, Við Og Við, last year.

Find out just why Iceland is one of the 'coolest' countries on the planet by visiting www.discover-the-world.co.uk

Posted on June 13, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

Iceland tops the poll as world's most peaceful country

Did you know that Iceland is the world's most peaceful country, according to an index measuring internal and external turmoil. Only one of the G8 states makes it into the top 10 of the survey, which was published this week.

Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, Iceland's foreign minister, welcomed her country's ranking by saying "We are very pleased that the index confirms the core values of a small democratic society ... which has never had a military and has effectively practised peace for hundreds of years," she said. "We can feel that other states also find this of importance and it is in fact a driving force in our first-time candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN security council."

While Iceland leads the field, Nordic countries again feature at the top of the index, which is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit from 24 indicators of external and internal measures of peace, including UN deployments overseas and levels of violent crime nationally. Denmark and Norway come second and third, followed by New Zealand and Japan, the G8's sole representative in the top 10.

Give peace a chance and find a more harmonious way of life by visiting the world's number travel company to Iceland, Discover the World, at www.discover-the-world.co.uk

Posted on May 23, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

TripAdvisor votes Queenstown and Milford Sound top two worldwide destinations

Queenstown has been named the second most popular world destination, closely following Milford Sound in first place, by TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel community.

The inaugural TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards recognise inspirational travel spots and honour the most beloved destinations from around the world.

TripAdvisor’s 2008 Destinations Awards represent the opinions of millions of travelers. The winners were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s travelers’ favourite places and overall popularity on the online travel community’s website.

Vice President of Global Communications for TripAdvisor Michele Perry said the Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back.

Destination Queenstown CEO, David Kennedy, said the award for Queenstown was testament to the quality of the town’s operators and the exceptional travel experience they delivered. The award was phenomenal recognition for Queenstown and the people who run businesses in town, showcasing Queenstown’s southern hospitality and delivering an inspirational experience.

Start planning your dream holiday to New Zealand now by visiting www.discover-the-world.co.uk where you will find one of the UK's most comprehensive guides to New Zealand together with a fantastic selection of travel options.

Posted on May 9, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

Iceland claims Europe's largest park

Next month Vatnajokull in Iceland will be designated the largest national park in Europe. It will cover more than three million acres (half the size of Wales), incorporating 13 per cent of the whole country.

Vatnajokull, in the south-east of the country, is a land of high plains, volcanoes, lava beds, sand flats, rivers, lakes and ravines. While some areas – such as the Detifoss waterfall, the most powerful in Europe – attract visitors, much of the park is a wilderness. Seven volcanoes, most of them active, are located under the Vatnajokull ice-cap, one of the largest glaciers in Europe.

A network of visitor centres, waymarked trails and rangers' stations is being built to improve accessibility. "National park status will protect the area against development, pollution and other human interference in order to preserve it for future generations," said Olof Yrr Atladottir, the director-general of the Icelandic Tourist Board.

Tourist officials estimate that the park could attract more than 40,000 new visitors each year.

Iceland is already anticipating an increase in tourist numbers as its currency, the krona, has fallen by more than 10 per cent against the pound in the past 12 months.

Travel with the World's number one tour operator to Iceland, Discover the World, and witness this amazing national park for yourself..!! For more information see www.discover-the-world.co.uk

Posted on May 8, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

Sweden ranks world's best place for mothers

Sweden has once again been rated as "the best place to be a mother in the world" by a U.S.-based charity in a report assessing the well-being for mothers around the world.

The report, released by the aid agency Save the Children Tuesday, illustrates where mothers fare best and where they face the greatest hardship.

Save the Children has done the assessments of such aspects as longevity, drinking water quality, matNorway ranks second on the list of 146 countries in the State of the World's Mothers' index, followed by Iceland which ranks third.

Among the top 10 countries on the list are also New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Finland, Ireland, Germany and France.

The low-ranked countries include Niger, Chad, Yemen, Sierra Leone, Angola, Guinea Bissa, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mali and Ethiopia.

The organization releases its report annually since 2000 in a bid to arouse public concerns about life quality for mothers around the world.

Enjoy a holiday in Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand and find out for yourself just why these countries are unique. For more information visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk

Posted on May 8, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this

World's most northerly kebab shop opened..!!

The Red Polar Bear, owned by Kazem Ariaiwand, is providing kebabs on the island of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago 300 miles off the northern tip of Norway.

With temperatures averaging 14F (-10C), the time-honoured question of "chilli sauce?" could not seem more appropriate.

Mr Ariaiwand moved to Spitsbergen after a failed asylum attempt in Norway, and set up his business in an old military van last year in Longyearbyen. His venture has been such a success among the settlement's 2,000 population that it is challenging the more traditional fare of seal and minke whale meat.

Mr Ariaiwand fled Iran five years ago but while his wife and son were granted asylum in Norway, he was refused. Commenting on his new life Mr Ariaiwand says "I've made a fair amount of money but the problem is that I don't know how to spend it," said the 48-year-old. "I came here without knowing anyone. I had nothing. I came on a plane with my backpack. Now I have many friends, almost the whole town."

To find out more about holidays to Spitsbergen and the Polar regions visit the UK travel specialists, Discover the World, at www.discover-the-world.co.uk

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this