Academia Færoensis – The history of our University

The University of the Faroe Islands was founded in 1965 under the Latin name Academia Færoensis. The establishment of the University was driven by the efforts of the Faroese Academy of Sciences, which had been founded in 1952 with the aim of fostering a scholarly and scientific community in the Faroe Islands. Among its many contributions, the Academy published the scientific journal Fróðskaparrit and undertook significant efforts to document and preserve the Faroese language.

In 1965, based on a proposal from the Faroese Academy of Sciences, the Faroese Parliament passed a resolution to establish the University of the Faroe Islands. The stated purpose of the University was "to carry out scientific research and provide higher education, with the responsibility of lecturers to promote both." This marked a significant milestone for the Faroese people, providing them with their first institution of higher education.

The University opened with only one professor, Christian Matras, and one secretary, Maud Heinesen. In its early years, the University offered one-year courses in natural history and Faroese, particularly aimed at schoolteachers. These courses, originally organized by the Faroese Academy of Sciences, became a regular feature of the University until the late 1980s, when responsibility for continuing education of schoolteachers was transferred to the national education authority, Landsskúlafyrisitingin.

Beyond these academic offerings, the University also played an active role in public engagement, organizing lectures on a variety of topics and evening courses in Faroese. In 1967, the University initiated a collection committee dedicated to preserving Faroese folk culture. This work culminated in the establishment of Tjóðlívsnevndin in 1970, which furthered the collection of materials related to Faroese traditions, folklore, and popular culture. These materials are now housed at the University’s Faculty of Language and Literature. Additionally, in 1972, a separate committee was formed to collect Faroese hymns and spiritual ballads.

Throughout its history, the University has also promoted scholarly activity through annual monograph contests, encouraging contributions from scholars and the public alike.