CV various versions

CV short version – June 2025

Jón Torfi Jónasson, PhD. Professor emeritus,  School of Education Univ. of Iceland.

E-mail jtj@hi.is  http://uni.hi.is/jtj/en/   (On details and contributions in Icelandic see the homepage).

Education

1980                       Ph.D. from the University of Reading. Thesis: What’s in a word? A Study on Word Recognition.

1973 – 1977            Research for a Ph.D. thesis at the University of Reading, supervised by Professor Max Coltheart.

1973                       M.Sc. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Sussex.

1972                       B.Sc. in Physics at the University of Edinburgh.

1967- 1968            Studied History, Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

1967                       Matriculated from Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (high school), Science option.

Professional experience

2017 – present      Professor emeritus, School of Education

2008 – 2013          Dean of the School of Education, University of Iceland (a five-year term)

2008 – 2017          Professor, School of Education, University of Iceland

1995 – 2001           Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, University of Iceland

1993 – 2008          Professor at the Faculty of Social Science, Department of education, University of Iceland.

Supervision

Miscellaneous – last decade+

2020-2025 On the editorial board of ELM magazine https://elmmagazine.eu/what-is-elm/

2020–2026 External member for the School of Social Science UI, evaluation committee

2022- European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education – in advisory capacity

2019-2022 Chairman of the Science fund, University of Akureyri

2018-2019 On a selection committee in the Catalonian Sérra Hunter Programme

2018 Co-presenter on ten State radio programmes on education

2017 On the evaluation committee for the Faculty of Education and International Studies, Oslo and Akershus University College

2016- 2024 Nominated by the Council of Icelandic Universities to the advisory board to the Directorate of Education

2016 Spring. Visiting Helsinki University, JustEd programme

2015 Spring. Visiting Scholar, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University

2014-2017 – Chairman of University of Iceland Ethics Committee

2014- Contributor to EDiTE, the European doctor in Teacher Education project

2013- 2014 Chairman of the Icelandic Unesco commission

2013- 2015 Member of a team evaluating the University of the Faroe Islands

2011- 2014 Chairman of the board of the (state) Adult education fund

Publications 2008-2025 – mainly in English – see homepage for Icelandic ones

Jón Torfi Jónasson. (2025). From the editorial team: How best to harness the research in adult education? https://elmmagazine.eu/editorial-how-best-to-harness-the-research-in-adult-education/

Jón Torfi Jónasson, (2025). Virðing fyrir gögnum – og vandinn við að nota þau í skólastarfi. [Respect for data – and the challenge to use them in educational practice.]. In Andri Steinþór Björnsson, Árni Kristjánsson, Heiða María Sigurðardóttir og Urður Njarðvík (eds.) Yfirkennarinn : afmælisrit til heiðurs Sigurði J. Grétarssyni professor, p. 137-170..

Jónasson, J. T. & Bjarnadóttir, V. S., (2024), The Nordic interactive and comparative spaces within the arena of education. Scrutinising the Nordic Dimension in Education: Myths, Realities, and Integration Efforts in Europe’s Nordic Region. Taylor and Francis/ Balkema, s. 44-62 19 s.

Jón Torfi Jónasson. (2023). Education and school – the present and the potential futures – points for contemplation. Skólaþræðir, 23. feb 2023. [Published in Icelandic, English and Polish.] 

Jónasson, J. T. (2023). Die Bildung verändern – sollen wir – können wir? Was hält uns zurück? Erziehung & Unterricht – DIE pädagogische Zeitschrift. s. 709-723

Jónasson, J. T. & Bjarnadóttir, V. S. (2023). The Nordic Interactive and Comparative Spaces Within the Arena of Education. Nordic Studies in Education. 43, 1, s. 25-42

Þorsteinsson, J. F., Arnarsson, Á. M. & Jónasson, J. T. (2023). How ‘outdoors time’ transforms the social relationships of children in Iceland.: Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. 26, 2, s. 227-246

Þorsteinsson, J. F., Jóhannesson, G. Þ. & Jónasson, J. T. (2022). Kynni unglinga af vinsælum ferðamannastöðum: Frístundir, ferðalög og menntun Netla. s. 1-22.

Björk Ólafsdóttir, Jón Torfi Jónasson, Anna Kristin Sigurðardóttir, and Thor Aspelund. (2022). The mechanisms by which external school evaluation in Iceland influences internal evaluation and school professionals’ practices. Nordic journal of studies in education. Published online: 19 May 2022   https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2022.2076376

Ragnarsdóttir, G. & Jónasson, J. T., 14 des. 2022, Stofnunareðli framhaldsskóla í faraldurskreppu: Ný reynsla og breytt umboð skólastjórnenda. [Institutional character of upper secondary schools.] Stjórnmál og stjórnsýsla. 18, 2, 283-312. https://doi.org/283-312. 10.13177/irpa.a.2022.18.2.6

Pascale Mompoint-Gaillard, Guðrún Ragnarsdóttir, Jón Torfi Jónasson. (2022). The key role of moderators in online communities of teachers: How presences support co-construction of knowledge in asynchronous discussions. Teaching and Teacher Education. Volume 116, August 2022, 103751   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103751

Ólafsdóttir, B., Jónasson, J. T. & Sigurðardóttir, A. K., (2022). Use and impact of external evaluation feedback in schools. Studies in Educational Evaluation. 74, s. 1-15  10.1016/j.stueduc.2022.101181

Volmari, S., Sivesind, K., Jónasson, J.T. (2022). Regional Policy Spaces, Knowledge Networks, and the “Nordic Other”. In: Karseth, B., Sivesind, K., Steiner-Khamsi, G. (eds) Evidence and Expertise in Nordic Education Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91959-7_12

Magnúsdóttir, B.R., Jónasson, J.T. (2022). The Irregular Formation of State Policy Documents in the Icelandic Field of Education 2013–2017. In: Karseth, B., Sivesind, K., Steiner-Khamsi, G. (eds) Evidence and Expertise in Nordic Education Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91959-7_6

Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2022). Re-thinking and reimagining education. Elm magazine, 18.3.2022. „Essay. The recent UNESCO report is calling us all to rethink our understanding of what education and lifelong learning mean.“

Jónasson, Jón Torfi, Ragnarsdóttir, Guðrún, Bjarnadóttir, Valgerður S. (2021). The Intricacies of Educational Development in Iceland: Stability or Disruption? In J. B. Krejsler & Moos, L. (Eds.), What Works in Nordic School Policies? Mapping Approaches to Evidence, Social Technologies and Transnational Influences, (pp 67-86). Cham (CH): Springer (see: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030666286

Jónasson, Jón Torfi, Bjarnadóttir, Valgerður S., & Ragnarsdóttir, Guðrún. (2021). Evidence and Accountability in Icelandic Education – An Historical Perspective? In J. B. Krejsler & Moos, L. (Eds.), What Works in Nordic School Policies? Mapping Approaches to Evidence, Social Technologies and Transnational Influences (pp 173-194). Cham (CH): Springer (see: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030666286

Guðrún Ragnarsdóttir, & Jón Torfi Jónasson. (2020). The Impact of the University on Upper Secondary Education through Academic Subjects According to School Leaders’ Perceptions. In Lejf Moos, Elisabet Nihlfors, Jan Merok Paulsen (Eds.), Re-centering the Critical Potential of Nordic School Leadership Research, Fundamental, but often forgotten perspectives, pp 191-207. Springer book series.

Ragnarsdóttir, Guðrún; Jóhannesson, Ingólfur Ásgeir; Jónasson, Jón Torfi; Halldórsdóttir, Brynja E. (2020). Evidence-based publications on upper secondary education in Iceland, 2003–2012. Icelandic Review of Politics and Administration Vol. 16, Issue 1 (43-64). http://www.irpa.is/article/view/a.2020.16.1.3/pdf

Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2020). Etterord. [Epilouge – postscript to the study written in English, while the chapters in the book are written in Norwegian.]. In Oldervik, Heidun; Saur, Ellen; Ulleberg, Hans Petter. Et mangfold av kvaliteter i videregående utdanning. Universitetsforlaget. pp 207-222. ISBN 978-82-15-03184-2.

Blöndal, Kristjana Stella; Jónasson, Jón Torfi and Hafthórsson, Atli. (2019). Student Disengagement in Inclusive Icelandic Education: A question of School Effect in Reykjavík. In Demanet, Jannick & Van Houtte, Mieke (Eds.), Resisting Education: A Cross-National Study on Systems and School Effects, pp 117-133. Springer. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030042264#aboutBook

Lundahl, Lisbeth; Arnesen; Anne-Lise & Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2018). Justice and marketization of education in three Nordic countries: can existing large-scale datasets support comparisons? Pages 120-132 Published online: 11 Dec 2018 https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2018.1542908

Isopahkala-Bouret, Ulpukka; Börjesson, Mikael; Beach, Dennis; Haltia, Nina; Jónasson, Jón Torfi; Jauhiainen, Annukka; Jauhiainen, Arto; Kosunen, Sonja; Nori, Hanna; Vabø, Agnete. (2018). Access and stratification in Nordic higher education. A review of cross-cutting research themes and issues. Education Inquiry, Vol.9(1), p.142-154

Ólafsdóttir, Anna & Jónasson, Jón Torfi.(2017). Quality Assurance in a Small HE System. Is the Icelandic System in Some Ways Special? In S. Georgios, K.M. Joshi and S. Paivandi (eds), Quality Assurance in Higher Education, Chapter 11, (pp. 203-226). © Studera Press 2017.

Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2016). Educational change, inertia and potential futures. Why is it difficult to change the content of education? European Journal of Futures Research, 4(1), 1-14, DOI 10.1007/s40309-016-0087-z

Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2016). Connecting the Past, Present and the Future: A Story about the Travel of Education through Time. In Peter J. Mitchell and Marie McNaughton (Eds.), Storyline. A Creative Approach to Learning and Teaching. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. http://www.cambridgescholars.com/storyline

Jónasson, J. T., & Óskarsdóttir, G. (2016). Iceland: Educational structure and development. In T. Sprague (Ed.), Education in non-EU countries in Western and Southern Europe, pp. 11-36. Series: Education Around the World. London: Bloomsbury. ePub: 978-1-4725-9250-7.

Óskarsdóttir, G., & Jónasson, J. T. (2015). Quiet pupils can be effective learners. Nordic Studies in Science Education, 11(3), 238-248. https://www.journals.uio.no/index.php/nordina/article/view/968

Gyða Jóhannsdóttir, Gyða & Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2014). External and internal influences on the development of Icelandic higher education. Nordic Studies in Education, 34, 153-171

Jóhannsdóttir, Gyða, & Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2013). The Development Dynamics of a Small Higher Education System Iceland: a case in point. Netla – Online Journal on Pedagogy and Education. University of Iceland – School of Education. http://netla.hi.is/introduction-in-english

Jónasson, Jón Torfi, & Blöndal, Kristjana Stella. (2011). The development of Icelandic education: the situation in 2011 in the perspective of a century. In Piotr Mikiewicz (Ed.), Social capital and education. Comparative research between Poland and Iceland (pp. 52-95). Wrocław: University of Lower Silesia.

Jóhannsdóttir, Gyða, & Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2011). What Characterises the Public-Private Distinction in HE in a Nordic Perspective? Comparison of the Essential Features of Private Universities in Denmark, Iceland and Norway. In Teixeira, Pedro, & Dill, David, D. (Eds.), Public Vices, Private Virtues? (pp. 67 – 89). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Blöndal, Kristjana Stella, Jónasson, Jón Torfi, & Tannhäuser, Anne-Christine. (2011). Dropout in a Small Society: Is the Icelandic Case Somehow Different? In S. Lamb, E. Markussen, R. Teese, N. Sandberg and J. Polesel (Eds.) School Dropout and Completion. International Comparative Studies in Theory and Policy, (pp. 233-251). London: Springer.

Jónasson, Jón Torfi. (2008). Inventing Tomorrow´s University. Who is to take the lead? Bologna: Magna Charta Observatory.