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 Minni sóun, meiri verðmæti Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir Skoðun Hvar á ég heima? Aðgengi fólks með POTS að heilbrigðisþjónustu Hugrún Vignisdóttir Skoðun Tími formanns Afstöðu liðinn Ólafur Ágúst Hraundal Skoðun Hróplegt óréttlæti í lífeyrismálum Finnbjörn A. Hermansson Skoðun „Við getum ekki": Þrjú orð sem svíkja börn á hverjum degi Hjördís Eva Þórðardóttir Skoðun Grímulaus aðför að landsbyggðinni Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson Skoðun Hvítþvottur í skugga samstöðu – þegar lögreglan mótmælir því sem hún sjálf reynir að þagga niður Daníel Þór Bjarnason Skoðun Lærum af reynslunni Hlöðver Skúli Hákonarson Skoðun Íslendingar – rolluþjóð með framtíð í hampi Sigríður Ævarsdóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Hvað veit Hafró um verndun hafsvæða? Kjartan Páll Sveinsson skrifar Skoðun Ógnar stjórnleysi á landamærunum íslensku samfélagi? Þorsteinn Siglaugsson skrifar Skoðun Grímulaus aðför að landsbyggðinni Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson skrifar Skoðun Menningarstríð í borginni Hildur Björnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Málfrelsið Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson skrifar Skoðun Austurland lykilhlekkur í varnarmálum Ragnar Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Áhyggjur af fyrirhugaðri sameiningu Hljóðbókasafns Íslands Snævar Ívarsson skrifar Skoðun Fjárfesting í færni Maj-Britt Hjördís Briem skrifar Skoðun Hvar á ég heima? Aðgengi fólks með POTS að heilbrigðisþjónustu Hugrún Vignisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Lærum af reynslunni Hlöðver Skúli Hákonarson skrifar Skoðun Hvítþvottur í skugga samstöðu – þegar lögreglan mótmælir því sem hún sjálf reynir að þagga niður Daníel Þór Bjarnason skrifar Skoðun „Við getum ekki": Þrjú orð sem svíkja börn á hverjum degi Hjördís Eva Þórðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Hróplegt óréttlæti í lífeyrismálum Finnbjörn A. Hermansson skrifar Skoðun Tími formanns Afstöðu liðinn Ólafur Ágúst Hraundal skrifar Skoðun Þögnin sem mótar umræðuna Snorri Ásmundsson skrifar Skoðun Minni sóun, meiri verðmæti Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Yfirborðskennd tiltekt Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Konukot Sigmar Guðmundsson skrifar 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 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.
Hvítþvottur í skugga samstöðu – þegar lögreglan mótmælir því sem hún sjálf reynir að þagga niður Daníel Þór Bjarnason Skoðun
Skoðun Hvítþvottur í skugga samstöðu – þegar lögreglan mótmælir því sem hún sjálf reynir að þagga niður Daníel Þór Bjarnason 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 Mennskan er fórnarlamb Menningarstríðsins! - Tilvist fólks er aldrei hugmyndafræði eða skoðun! Arna Magnea Danks skrifar
Hvítþvottur í skugga samstöðu – þegar lögreglan mótmælir því sem hún sjálf reynir að þagga niður Daníel Þór Bjarnason Skoðun