University of Iceland

We visited the University of Iceland yesterday and had the opportunity to visit with some professors and students in the Theology division of the school. In order to attend university, you must have first finished college (somewhat like our high school but ranging from 16 years of age until 20). The cost for university is taken out of your pay as a tax, so there is no additional cost to attend except purchasing books and materials. One can attend University whenever they like which, in my perspective, has wonderful potential for encouraging continuing education throughout the life-cycle (because you are already paying for it, why not attend?) Also, there is not such a commitment, as there is in the United States, where most students must take out loans to go to school which will be paid for the next 20 years after graduation. This really is not an encouragement to attend classes at an older age for the enjoyment of learning.

The program to achieve the equivalent of an M. Div. is, at the shortest, a five year process. This includes a bachelor's degree in Theology. In Iceland, it is required to write a thesis for both the Master's degree and the Bachelor's degree in order to receive the designated degree. Therefore, there are some people who have taken all the classes but have chosen not to write the paper. There are many who start the program to become a pastor here in Iceland and there are many who dropout of the program as well. I believe we do not have this phenomenon in the United States to such an extent because the schooling is so expensive that we must be dedicated to attend seminary at the outset and to persevere throughout because of the expense. The price of attending is an initial weeding out whereas in Iceland, the preliminary classes do the same.

What I gather from those trying the program and deciding not to continue is the ability in Iceland to explore possibilities and fulfill curiosities. In the United States, one can count how much each class is costing and it matters how long it takes to complete a degree because you will be paying much more for the extra time you take. In Iceland, you are paying whether you attend or not, which (from my perspective) opens the door for a higher focus upon learning what interests you rather than graduating with a degree. Also, this system seems to open up and encourage learning rather than trying to graduate to get a degree to get a job to earn money, etc.

We met a man at Dr. Persaud's lecture who was a retired pastor who had decided to go back to University to learn. This showed to me that learning is something that can be fulfilled here without so much hanging in the balance.

God, thank you for allowing your creation to be curious and enjoy learning. Please allow us to use this ability to learn to love you and to fear you more and more. Thank you for this learning experience in Iceland. Shape us into that which we are meant to be. Amen.