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EACEA National Policies Platform
Iceland

Iceland

6. Education and Training

6.7 Skills for innovation

Last update: 28 November 2023
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  1. Innovation in formal education
  2. Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

Innovation in formal education

The Compulsory School Act No. 91/2008 states that innovation and entrepreneurship should be a part of compulsory school education, but does not indicate this issue further. The role of innovation in formal education is furthermore ambiguously outlined in the National Curriculum Guide for both primary and upper secondary schools. Innovative thinking is encouraged through the six fundamental pillars upon which the curriculum is built: Literacy; sustainability; democracy and human rights; equality; health and welfare; creativity. Schools have full autonomy in terms of how they choose to implement these principles into their work.

Skema is an organization within Reykjavik University which specializes in teaching children and young people aged 4 - 16 programming. In 2013, Skema was among the founding organizations of a fund called Programmers of the Future (IS: Forritarar framtíðarinnar, official translation unavailable). Schools and municipalities can apply to the fund to receive training for students and teachers by Skema's professionals.

 

Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

Top level authorities do not organize any program or project pertaining to innovation. However, various organizations that work in the field of innovation and help students foster their innovative capacities through non-formal learning are state funded. One such institution is Innovation Centre Iceland, which is introduced in chapter 3.2 concerning the main actors in employment and entrepreneurship.