Programme
Programme (ver. 10/06/2026)
Monday, June 15th
Day 1 programme in Reykjavík - Reykjavík University, Menntavegur 1, 102 Reykjavík
Monday, June 15th
Day 1 programme in Reykjavík - Reykjavík University, Menntavegur 1, 102 Reykjavík
| Time | Session | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:30 | Registration and morning coffee | Entry atrium | |
| 09:30-10:15 | Welcome to IROICA | Florence Malaise, H.E. Clara Ganslandt, Lukáš Pospíšil, Guðlaug Matthildur Jakobsdóttir, Ragnhildur Helgadóttir, Ragnheiður I Þórarinsdóttir | V101 |
| 10:15-10:30 | Greetings from the ICA President / Introduction to ICA | Maria Knutsson Wedel | V101 |
| 10:30-11:20 | Keynote: Geopolitics of the Arctic | Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir | V101 |
| 11:20-11:40 | Coffee break | Entry atrium | |
| 11:40-12:30 | Panel debate reflecting the latest development | Barbara Hinterstoisser; Matt Tips, Daniela Pojar, Babak Ranjbaran, Lukáš Pospíšil | V101 |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch | University Cafeteria |
|
| 13:30-15:00 | Local self-hosted AI in the University International Office, GDPR compliant vs online AI services, Agents and repetitive tasks automation | Ernest Nowak | V101 |
| 15:00-15:30 | Coffee break | Entry atrium | |
| 15:30-16:15 | Mental well-being for IROs | Sigrún Þóra Sveinsdóttir | V101 |
| 16:15-16:30 | Group photo | Staircase at the entry atrium |
Tuesday, June 16th
Day 2 programme in Reykjavík and Hvanneyri
Tuesday, June 16th
Day 2 programme in Reykjavík and Hvanneyri
| Time | Session | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:30 | Parallel session 1: Own the Room: Speaking with Impact to Large Audiences (Practical Training) | Jelle De Wit | V101 |
| 09:00-10:30 | Parallel session 2: Your Ideas: How to build AI automation workflows for repetitive tasks in the International Office (Practical Training) | Ernest Nowak | V102 |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee break | ||
| 11:00-12:30 | Parallel session 1 continuation: Own the Room: Speaking with Impact to Large Audiences (Practical Training) | Jelle De Wit | V101 |
| 11:00-12:30 | Parallel session 2 continuation: Your Ideas: How to build AI automation workflows for repetitive tasks in the International Office (Practical Training) | Ernest Nowak | V102 |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch | University Cafeteria | |
| 13:30-15:00 | Transfer to Hvanneyri | ||
| 15:00-16:30 | Check in to the student housing on campus | Hvanneyri | |
| 16:30-18:30 | Horse riding / Knitting workshop / Visit to the Agricultural Museum | ||
| 19:15-20:15 | Welcome dinner | Matsalur |
Wednesday, June 17th
Day 3 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
Wednesday, June 17th
Day 3 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
| Time | Session | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00-09:00 | Registration and breakfast | Matsalur | |
| 09:00-09:30 | Welcome session II | Florence Malaise, Lukáš Pospíšil | Ársalur |
| 09:30-10:30 | Keynote: Between Openness and Security: Policy, Values, and Safeguarding Scholars in the Age of Geopolitical Rivalry | Ľubomír Majerník | Ársalur |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee break | Matsalur | |
| 11:00-12:00 | Involvement of International Students and Staff in the Self-Governance of Academic Institutions | Lukáš Pospíšil | Ársalur |
| 12:00-12:30 | Rumours about Erasmus 2028+ | Andries Verspeeten (online) | Ársalur |
| 12:30–13:30 | Lunch | Matsalur | |
| 13:30-14:30 | Welcome Services - Spouse Programme and Community Building Activities | Ingrid De Vries, Dagmar Brožová, Lukáš Pospíšil | Ársalur |
| 14:30-15:00 | Coffee break | Matsalur | |
| 15:00-16:30 | IROICA General Assembly | Ársalur | |
| 17:30-18:00 | Skyr tasting | Matsalur | |
| 19:00-20:00 | Dinner | Matsalur |
Thursday, June 18th
Day 4 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
Thursday, June 18th
Day 4 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
| Time | Session | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00-09:00 | Breakfast | Matsalur | |
| 09:00-10:30 | Good Practices in Welcoming Students: session with examples from the audience | Wim Gabriels, Ekaterina Makrickiene, Martina Schwab, Daniela Pojar, Ellen de Jong, Bohdana Čechová | Ársalur |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee break | Matsalur | |
| 11:00-12:00 | Collaboration with Southeast Asia | Petra Chaloupková, Chutima Tantikitti | Ársalur |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch | Matsalur | |
| 13:00-14:50 | Turning Mobility Experiences into Lasting Competence Through Practical Modules for Intercultural Preparation and Debriefing (PADMICA) | Thibault Hoogstoel, Karen Wouters | Ársalur (+Borg and Kista) |
| 14:50-15:10 | Short coffee break | Matsalur | |
| 15:10-16:00 | Turning Mobility Experiences into Lasting Competence Through Practical Modules for Intercultural Preparation and Debriefing (PADMICA) | Thibault Hoogstoel, Karen Wouters | Ársalur (+Borg and Kista) |
| 16:30-20:15 | Visit to the Lindin Geothermal Baths in Húsafell and Hraunfossar Waterfalls | ||
| 21:00-23:45 | Dinner and dance | Matsalur, Skemman and the Old Gym | |
| 23:45-0:00 | Midnight sun tea ceremony (if weather permits) | by Hvanneyri Church |
Friday, June 19th
Day 5 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
Friday, June 19th
Day 5 programme in Hvanneyri - Ásgarður
| Time | Session | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-10:00 | Breakfast | Matsalur | |
| 10:00-11:30 | Focus on LGBTQIA+ Student Community | Wim Gabriels, Nath Jonniaux, Lukáš Pospíšil | Ársalur |
| 11:30-12:30 | Belonging - or just being here? Inclusion in the Icelandic University Community | Joanna Marcinkowska | Ársalur |
| 12:30-12:40 | Closing of the Staff Training | Florence Malaise, Lukáš Pospíšil | Ársalur |
| 12:40-13:40 | Lunch | Matsalur | |
| 13:40-15:15 | BUS transfer to BSÍ in Reykjavík | Departure from Ásgarður entry hall | |
| 14:30-16:30 (tbc) | ACTIVITY for post-tour participants: LIFE Peatland Lifeline project - walk through the peatlands and introduction of the project - tbc | tba | Departure from Matsalur |
| 19:00-20:00 | Dinner | Matsalur |
Saturday, June 20th
Additional Workshop Day - Community workshop focusing on the subarctic living conditions and challenges of rural Iceland for international mobility participants
Saturday, June 20th
Additional Workshop Day - Community workshop focusing on the subarctic living conditions and challenges of rural Iceland for international mobility participants
| Time | Agenda | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00-08:30 | Breakfast at Matsalur | ||
| 08:45 | Departure to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, in the afternoon, visit to the town of Grundarfjörður, presentation of the EU LIFE Icewater Project, EarthCheck community | ||
| between 21:00 and 22:00 | Arrival at BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík |
Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð GylfadóttirKeynote speaker
Thordis Gylfadottir was a member of parliament from 2016-2026. She was a minister for eight years from 2017 to 2024. She was the minister for Foreign Affairs 2021-2024. Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs for a short while. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation 2017-2021 and a minister of Justice for a short while.
Thordis was the Vice Chairman of the Independence Party from 2018-2015. Thordis is the Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, since February 2025. She is a lawyer, taught Constitutional and Administrative Law at Reykjavik University 2013-2015 and 2025. She has been appointed as an Ambassador from August 1, 2026.
Thordis was the Vice Chairman of the Independence Party from 2018-2015. Thordis is the Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, since February 2025. She is a lawyer, taught Constitutional and Administrative Law at Reykjavik University 2013-2015 and 2025. She has been appointed as an Ambassador from August 1, 2026.
Ľubomír MajerníkKeynote speaker
Ľubomír Majerník is an international relations and security specialist whose work spans academia, public institutions, and the private sector. He holds a degree in International Relations with a specialisation in international security from Prague.
At the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, he serves as Internationalisation and International Security Manager, where he leads the development of global partnerships and helps shape the university’s strategic approach to internationalisation. His work focuses in particular on integrating security considerations into academic cooperation - an area of growing importance in today’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
Operating at the intersection of international collaboration and security, he offers a clear perspective on how higher education institutions can remain open, resilient, and strategically engaged in an increasingly complex world.
At the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, he serves as Internationalisation and International Security Manager, where he leads the development of global partnerships and helps shape the university’s strategic approach to internationalisation. His work focuses in particular on integrating security considerations into academic cooperation - an area of growing importance in today’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
Operating at the intersection of international collaboration and security, he offers a clear perspective on how higher education institutions can remain open, resilient, and strategically engaged in an increasingly complex world.
Online webinar
(part of the Erasmus BIP as obligatory online component)
Online Webinar; 26 May, 14:00 - 15:30 CEST
The link will be shared with all registered participants.See the details about speakers and sessions
Speakers and session titles
Barbara Hinterstoisser (BOKU): Strategic Gaming - A Method of Strategic Training
Wim Gabriels (ESN Europe): ESN's Key Research on Diversity and Inclusion in International Student Mobility
Nath Jonniaux (HEPL): Gender from a Conceptual and Theoretical Point of View