The UNU-GTP is operated at Orkustofnun, which has been an Associated Institution of the UNU since 1978. Orkustofnun is a government agency under the
Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Its main responsibilities have been to advise the Government of Iceland on energy issues and related topics, and (until 2003) to carry out energy research and
provide consulting services relating to energy development and utilization.
ISOR – (Iceland GeoSurvey), with basically the same operations as the former Geoscience Division. The integration of
the UNU Fellows with the specialists and the research atmosphere at ISOR has continued as in the years previous to 2003.The UNU-GTP pays for the services of staff members at ISOR and Orkustofnun, in accordance with contracts. The UNU Fellows have full access to the research facilities and the multidisciplinary research environment of Orkustofnun and ISOR, which united, for over three decades, have been amongst the leading geothermal energy research institutions in the world.
The UNU-GTP also has a close cooperation with the University of Iceland (UI). Staff members of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering have
been amongst key lecturers and supervisors of the UNU Fellows in some subjects since the establishment of the UNU-GTP. A co-operation agreement was signed in 2000 between the UNU-GTP and the UI on
MSc studies in geothermal science and engineering.
The UNU-GTP has six full time staff members (employed by Orkustofnun), but lecturers and support staff are hired from ISOR, the UI, and other agencies/companies. Every year, about 50 staff members of these institutions render services to the UNU-GTP under contracts. This allows the flexibility required to provide highly specialized training in the nine fields of specialization offered.
The UNU-GTP is academically governed by a Studies Board, which is composed of experts (from ISOR, UI and RU) responsible for each of the specialized
courses. The UNU-GTP Director is the chairman of the Studies Board.
