A total of eighteen candidates from the Keilir and Thompson Rivers University adventure studies program graduated on 10 June at Andrews Theater in Reykjanesbær, Iceland. This is the third commencement class in the program since the first students arrived in the Fall of 2013.
In his speech - Arnar Hafsteinsson, Director for the Adventure Studies Program - informed that both individuals and industry had shown great interest for the program and that all students had received job offers in the industry after completing the studies at Keilir. Furthermore he added that a few students have gone on to pursue a Bachelor Degree at Thompson Rivers University in Canada after completing the program in Iceland.
Ross Cloutier, Chair of Adventure Studies at Thompson Rivers University, delivered a greeting from the university. In his speech Ross mentioned that this way of teaching is the new norm in education. "Our culture and society is evolving and developing so these kind of studies like the adventure guide program is the new kind of normal."
Fífa Lísa Óskarsdóttir gave the commencement speech on behalf of the graduating class of 2016 and Unnur Ósk Unnsteinsdóttir was awarded with best overall achievement with 8,56 grade average (out of 10). The Adventure Studies Program (Adventure Sport Certificate) in Iceland is on university level and takes only eight months, with half the time in practical training in locations all around Iceland.
After the graduation a total of 45 students have graduated from the adventure guide program in Iceland. Of the current group of graduates, three will continue their university studies at TRU in Canada, while the rest will enter a rapidly expanding adventure tourism market.