A Strong International University Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir skrifar 18. mars 2025 10:45 The University of Iceland is a vibrant democratic academic community and today, and tomorrow, students and faculty elect a new rector. The online election will take place on the platform Ugla on March 18th and 19th. Over the past seven years, I have served as the Dean of the School of Education, and I am determined to use my extensive experience of working with stakeholders within and outside the university to lead our university in the coming years. Therefore, I am running for the office of rector of the University of Iceland. As a rector I will be dedicated to implementing effective policies to support our international staff and students, their academic and professional success, as well as their overall well-being. The University of Iceland has transformed during the last two decades and is now a leading international academic community. Nearly 2.400 international students from 113 countries and 360 academic staff and doctoral students from all around the world study and work at the university. My Emphasis on Support Services for International Students As the dean of the School of Education I have a wide experience of organizing international education. Our school has offered the International Studies in Education at undergraduate and graduate level which has gained wide recognition. Most recently we initiated a new joint diploma program in partnership with the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, Icelandic as a Second Language, specifically for international students who aim to work and study within the field of education and teaching. We have also arranged workshops for international students to strengthen academic writing and helped them navigate our curriculum and course platforms. Improving International Staff Services As a rector I will focus on strengthening the specific administrative unit within the International Staff Services, which was set up to provide strategic services for international staff members. The team aimsto provide international staff members with support before, during and after arrival in Iceland. It is vital to assist people from outside of the European Union and the European Economic Area to handle work permits and immigration processes, including obtaining visa, which can be challenging. It is also crucial to support new international academic staff in navigating the complex work environment of the university. It is vital to provide sufficient funding to secure such support and services. Academic and Language Support: Language barriers and different educational backgrounds pose challenges. There is a clear call from international students and staff for accessible language courses, tutoring, and academic counselling to facilitate their adaption to new academic environments and success in their studies and work. As a rector I will strive to answer these calls. One way could be to, for example, set up strategic mentorship systems, for international staff members and graduate students. Mental Health and Well-being: Balancing study and life issues is often stressful. I aim to strengthen the university's counseling services, support groups, and wellness programs. We also need to make sure that such support is always available in English to make it better accessible to international students and staff. Career Opportunities: To support professional development, it is important to offer career counselling, job placement services, and workshops, for example on CV writing and interview skills. Promoting such services will help international students and staff navigate the Icelandic labour market and secure employment opportunities. We Need to do Better in an Inclusive and Diverse University As a rector I will strive to give international students and staff members the opportunities they need to connect, contribute, and collaborate within the academic community. We have taken various steps in the past few years to make it easier for international staff and students to work at the university. But it is clear that we can do better. During my campaign I have met with many of you and heard a clear need for improvements when it comes to our international profile and services to international students and staff. It is quite clear that language barriers and a lack of accessible information is still, for many of you, complicating your engagement within the university environment. Of course, the main interests of international students and staff align with the interests of all our students and staff. We need to secure funding for the university, strengthen cooperation among faculties, increase opportunities for students to engage and work within the larger society on practical problems and real-life challenges. I invite you to support me in the upcoming rector elections at the University of Iceland. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our academic community. The author is a Rector candidate and Dean of the School of Education. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Rektorskjör við Háskóla Íslands Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir Mest lesið Heilbrigðiskerfi Íslands - Látum verkin tala! Victor Guðmundsson Skoðun Íslendingar – rolluþjóð með framtíð í hampi Sigríður Ævarsdóttir Skoðun Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks Skoðun Dýrasti staður í heimi Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir Skoðun Einn pakki á dag Guðmundur Ingi Þóroddsson Skoðun Pólitískt ofbeldi, fasismi og tvískinnungur valdsins Davíð Aron Routley,Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson Skoðun Skuggaráðherra ríkisstjórnarinnar Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir Skoðun Öfgamaður deyr Andri Þorvarðarson Skoðun Vissir þú, að.... og eða er þér bara slétt sama Björn Ólafsson Skoðun Grafið undan grunnstoð ríka samfélagsins Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Hvers vegna ekki bókun 35? Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Íslendingar – rolluþjóð með framtíð í hampi Sigríður Ævarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Við hvað erum við hrædd? Ingvi Hrafn Laxdal Victorsson skrifar Skoðun Höfuðborgin eftir fimmtíu ár, hvað erum við að tala um? Samúel Torfi Pétursson skrifar Skoðun Pólitískt ofbeldi, fasismi og tvískinnungur valdsins Davíð Aron Routley,Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Örugg heilbrigðisþjónusta fyrir öll börn frá upphafi - Alþjóðlegur dagur sjúklingaöryggis 2025 María Heimisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Einn pakki á dag Guðmundur Ingi Þóroddsson skrifar Skoðun Heilbrigðiskerfi Íslands - Látum verkin tala! Victor Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Hörmungarnar sem heimurinn hunsar Ragnar Schram skrifar Skoðun Dýrasti staður í heimi Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Grafið undan grunnstoð ríka samfélagsins Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson skrifar Skoðun Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks skrifar Skoðun Milljarðar evra streyma enn til Pútíns Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Speglar geta aðeins logið – um hlutlægni, huglægni og mennskuna Hjalti Hrafn Hafþórsson skrifar Skoðun Að þétta byggð Halldór Eiríksson skrifar Skoðun Þegar viðskiptalíkan Vesturlanda er stríð – og almenningur borgar brúsann Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Slökkvum ekki Ljósið Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Er það ekki sjálfsögð krafa að fá bílastæði? Aðalsteinn Haukur Sverrisson skrifar Skoðun Of lítið, of seint! Hjálmtýr Heiðdal,Magnús Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Halla fer að ræða um frið við einræðisherra Daníel Þröstur Pálsson skrifar Skoðun Ákall til allra velunnara Sólheima í Grímsnesi Ingibjörg Rósa Björnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Varðveitum vatnið – hugvekja Hópur starfsfólks Náttúruminjasafns Íslands skrifar Skoðun Innviðaskuld við íslenskuna Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson skrifar Skoðun Náttúruvernd er loftslagsaðgerð og loftslagsaðgerðir þjóna náttúrunni Þorgerður María Þorbjarnardóttir skrifar Skoðun Fatlað fólk rukkað með rangindum fyrir bílastæði Haukur Ragnar Hauksson skrifar Skoðun Vissir þú, að.... og eða er þér bara slétt sama Björn Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Hver hagnast á hatrinu? Halldóra Mogensen skrifar Skoðun Öfgamaður deyr Andri Þorvarðarson skrifar Skoðun Að taka til í orkumálum Guðrún Schmidt skrifar Skoðun Börn sem skilja ekki kennarann Ingibjörg Ólöf Isaksen skrifar Sjá meira
The University of Iceland is a vibrant democratic academic community and today, and tomorrow, students and faculty elect a new rector. The online election will take place on the platform Ugla on March 18th and 19th. Over the past seven years, I have served as the Dean of the School of Education, and I am determined to use my extensive experience of working with stakeholders within and outside the university to lead our university in the coming years. Therefore, I am running for the office of rector of the University of Iceland. As a rector I will be dedicated to implementing effective policies to support our international staff and students, their academic and professional success, as well as their overall well-being. The University of Iceland has transformed during the last two decades and is now a leading international academic community. Nearly 2.400 international students from 113 countries and 360 academic staff and doctoral students from all around the world study and work at the university. My Emphasis on Support Services for International Students As the dean of the School of Education I have a wide experience of organizing international education. Our school has offered the International Studies in Education at undergraduate and graduate level which has gained wide recognition. Most recently we initiated a new joint diploma program in partnership with the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, Icelandic as a Second Language, specifically for international students who aim to work and study within the field of education and teaching. We have also arranged workshops for international students to strengthen academic writing and helped them navigate our curriculum and course platforms. Improving International Staff Services As a rector I will focus on strengthening the specific administrative unit within the International Staff Services, which was set up to provide strategic services for international staff members. The team aimsto provide international staff members with support before, during and after arrival in Iceland. It is vital to assist people from outside of the European Union and the European Economic Area to handle work permits and immigration processes, including obtaining visa, which can be challenging. It is also crucial to support new international academic staff in navigating the complex work environment of the university. It is vital to provide sufficient funding to secure such support and services. Academic and Language Support: Language barriers and different educational backgrounds pose challenges. There is a clear call from international students and staff for accessible language courses, tutoring, and academic counselling to facilitate their adaption to new academic environments and success in their studies and work. As a rector I will strive to answer these calls. One way could be to, for example, set up strategic mentorship systems, for international staff members and graduate students. Mental Health and Well-being: Balancing study and life issues is often stressful. I aim to strengthen the university's counseling services, support groups, and wellness programs. We also need to make sure that such support is always available in English to make it better accessible to international students and staff. Career Opportunities: To support professional development, it is important to offer career counselling, job placement services, and workshops, for example on CV writing and interview skills. Promoting such services will help international students and staff navigate the Icelandic labour market and secure employment opportunities. We Need to do Better in an Inclusive and Diverse University As a rector I will strive to give international students and staff members the opportunities they need to connect, contribute, and collaborate within the academic community. We have taken various steps in the past few years to make it easier for international staff and students to work at the university. But it is clear that we can do better. During my campaign I have met with many of you and heard a clear need for improvements when it comes to our international profile and services to international students and staff. It is quite clear that language barriers and a lack of accessible information is still, for many of you, complicating your engagement within the university environment. Of course, the main interests of international students and staff align with the interests of all our students and staff. We need to secure funding for the university, strengthen cooperation among faculties, increase opportunities for students to engage and work within the larger society on practical problems and real-life challenges. I invite you to support me in the upcoming rector elections at the University of Iceland. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our academic community. The author is a Rector candidate and Dean of the School of Education.
Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks Skoðun
Pólitískt ofbeldi, fasismi og tvískinnungur valdsins Davíð Aron Routley,Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson Skoðun
Skoðun Pólitískt ofbeldi, fasismi og tvískinnungur valdsins Davíð Aron Routley,Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson skrifar
Skoðun Örugg heilbrigðisþjónusta fyrir öll börn frá upphafi - Alþjóðlegur dagur sjúklingaöryggis 2025 María Heimisdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks skrifar
Skoðun Speglar geta aðeins logið – um hlutlægni, huglægni og mennskuna Hjalti Hrafn Hafþórsson skrifar
Skoðun Þegar viðskiptalíkan Vesturlanda er stríð – og almenningur borgar brúsann Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Náttúruvernd er loftslagsaðgerð og loftslagsaðgerðir þjóna náttúrunni Þorgerður María Þorbjarnardóttir skrifar
Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks Skoðun
Pólitískt ofbeldi, fasismi og tvískinnungur valdsins Davíð Aron Routley,Karl Héðinn Kristjánsson Skoðun