UGLA

Different cultures - different customs - different universities. Comparing the University of Fribourg with the University of Iceland reveals many interesting aspects. The first keyword would probably be: technology. While looking for university news in Fribourg one still has to physically go to the building and check the departments notice board (if you are lucky the news will show up on the internet approximately 4 weeks later - stressing the IF). Many of our professors in Fribourg hardly know where the push on button is on a computer and they also have trouble operating the projector or beamer. Nota bene that most of the lecture halls don't even provide technical devises as beamers. Basically Fribourg has not followed the technical revolution of the past 50 years - and I doubt it is only a finance matter.
Let's move to the 21st century and the University of Iceland. Each tiny little seminar room possesses the newest technical equipment. Professors only show up with fully prepared powerpoint presentations for each lecture. These presentations can be downloaded a day in advance from the internet so each student actually already has the slides during the lecture. Another detail. While I am still a old hard core student who turns up with a pen and notebook - the majority of Icelandic students use their newest laptops.
Another terrific thing is the university network called ugla (meaning owl). It is an account on the net which each student has. It contains all information about one's courses and all the information of the courses is posted there. All announcements, materials, discussions (which are really being used!) can be found there. One can buy printing quotas there with one's creditcard - imagine that in Fribourg!!!