Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri
Budget
€18,000,000
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
1
0.1 FTE
EU Grants
€184,000
Mission & Goals
VMA is a Vocational College, offering multiple programs in VET in Northern Iceland. We take part in Erasmus + projects through applications to RANNIS / The Icelandic National Agency for Erasmus +. Both as an accreditated institution for Mobilities and we also take part in various Partnership projects. https://www.vma.is/ VMA was established in 1984, we have 900 - 1000 students full time on site and 300 - 400 students taking full time or part time programs through distance learning programs. VMA is the leading Vocational College in the region, taking in students at 16 years of age, most programs are 3 - 4 years. The visit to the European Parliament My 12th - 13th 2026 is a part of the Erasmus + project Connect-R (Connecting rural Youth to the EU). The project is a part of the work VMA does in advocating youth participation in discussing the future of our region in Northern Iceland.
EU Legislative Interests
EU youth agenda is the main connection to the Erasmus + Connect-R project. 2025-1-FR02-KA154-YOU-000301519 The visit to the European Parliament is a part of the Connect-R Erasmus + project coordinated by MFR in France. This concerns the communication from the EU commission on the EU policy for youth COM/2018/269 final. We want to empower young people in rural areas to increase participation in discussing the future of rural areas and provide an example of how this can be done, therefore the project and the visit to the European Parliament.
Communication Activities
Taking part in the Connect-R project 2025-1-FR02-KA154-YOU-000301519 has lead to the formation of a delegation of young people from northern Iceland. The group has met to discuss issues they are concerned about and we had a visit from a member of the Icelandic Parliament. The group will meet with representatives of local authorities in the region, SSNE https://www.ssne.is/ Before meeting in Strasbourg the Icelandic delegation will compile a memorandum to show to young participants from other countries and this will be discussed before presenting the conclusions to a member of the European Parliament during meetings May 12th and 13th 2026 in the European Parliament buildings. This is a piece of news about the project on the VMA website asking for participants. https://www.vma.is/is/skolinn/frettir/vilt-thu-hafa-ahrif-a-thad-hvernig-er-ad-bua-i-dreifbyli After the meeting in Strasbourg in May 2026 the group will go back home and present the findings to the local decision makers through the SSNE. We hope this will connect local authorities better with youth in the area.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
VMA is not a formal member of any associations except those included in the role of being a Public Vocational College in Iceland. The Icelandic Ministry of Education is the governing body for VMA. This is a list of institutions under the Ministry of Education in Iceland. https://www.stjornarradid.is/raduneyti/stofnanir/ Staff members are members of unions for teachers and other staff.
Organisation Members
VMA does not have any members since VMA is a Public Vocational College. VMA does have nominal connections to companies in the area through apprenticeships. The list of staff at VMA is here. https://www.vma.is/is/starfsfolk
Additional Information
When students pay for materials or for distance programs each student pays do usually not exceed 1000 EUR per person per term. Regular students do not pay anything for their education except a nominal registration fee, around 150 EUR per term.
Connected Legislation
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.