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 Hjúkrunarheimili í Þorlákshöfn Gestur Þór Kristjánsson,Sigurbjörg Jenný Jónsdóttir,Grétar Ingi Erlendsson,Erla Sif Markúsdóttir Skoðun Hálfrar aldar svívirða Stefán Pálsson Skoðun Óvenjulegt fólk Helgi Brynjarsson Skoðun Við erum búin að missa tökin Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir Skoðun Hver greiðir fyrir breytingarnar? Svanfríður G. Bergvinsdóttir Skoðun Stöndum vörð um Héraðsvötnin! Rakel Hinriksdóttir Skoðun Hrekkjavaka á Landakoti Kristófer Ingi Svavarsson Skoðun Um Liverpool, Diogo Jota, áföll og sorgina – hugleiðingar sálfræðings Andri Hrafn Sigurðsson Skoðun Martin bakari flýgur heim með látum frá leikvelli auðmanna í Vatnsmýrinni Daði Rafnsson,Haukur Magnússon,Kristján Vigfússon,Margrét Manda Jónsdóttir Skoðun Rýr húsnæðispakki Magnea Gná Jóhannsdóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Dauðsföll í Gaza-stríðinu og Mogginn Egill Þórir Einarsson skrifar Skoðun Eyðum óvissunni Stefán Vagn Stefánsson skrifar Skoðun Opinberi geirinn og stjórnunarráðgjafar: ástarsaga Adeel Akmal skrifar Skoðun Ættbálkahegðun á stafrænu formi Martha Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Kirkjurnar standa en stoðirnar eru sveltar Anton Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Martin bakari flýgur heim með látum frá leikvelli auðmanna í Vatnsmýrinni Daði Rafnsson,Haukur Magnússon,Kristján Vigfússon,Margrét Manda Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Stytta þarf veiðitíma svartfugla strax Hólmfríður Arnardóttir,Helga Ögmundardóttir skrifar Skoðun Hver greiðir fyrir breytingarnar? Svanfríður G. Bergvinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Um Liverpool, Diogo Jota, áföll og sorgina – hugleiðingar sálfræðings Andri Hrafn Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Stöndum vörð um Héraðsvötnin! Rakel Hinriksdóttir skrifar Skoðun Við erum búin að missa tökin Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hjúkrunarheimili í Þorlákshöfn Gestur Þór Kristjánsson,Sigurbjörg Jenný Jónsdóttir,Grétar Ingi Erlendsson,Erla Sif Markúsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Stöðug uppbygging orkuinnviða Adrian Pike,Bjarni Þórður Bjarnason,Tómas Már Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Rýr húsnæðispakki Magnea Gná Jóhannsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hrekkjavaka á Landakoti Kristófer Ingi Svavarsson skrifar Skoðun Óvenjulegt fólk Helgi Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Hálfrar aldar svívirða Stefán Pálsson skrifar Skoðun $€tjum í$lensku á (mat) $€ðilinn! Ólafur Guðsteinn Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Minna tal, meiri uppbygging Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Tvöföld mismunun kvenna í hópi innflytjenda Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar Skoðun Ný nálgun – sama markmið: Heimili fyrir fólkið í borginni Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Geymt en ekki gleymt Ástþór Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Tækni og ungmenni: Hvar liggur ábyrgðin og hvað getum við gert? Stefán Þorri Helgason skrifar Skoðun Hvað gerir brjóstakrabbamein að ólæknandi brjóstakrabbameini? Helga Tryggvadóttir,Ólöf Kristjana Bjarnadóttir skrifar Skoðun „Lánin hækka – framtíðin minnkar“ Sveinn Óskar Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Hey Pawels í harðindunum Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Land rutt fyrir þúsundir íbúða í Úlfarsárdal Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson skrifar Skoðun Dýrmæt þjóðfélagsgerð Eva Björk Valdimarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hver er þessi Davíð Oddsson? Daði Freyr Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Hugsanlega löglegt, en siðlaust og grimmt — af hundsráni í GOGG Kristinn Ka. Nína Sigríðarson 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.
Hjúkrunarheimili í Þorlákshöfn Gestur Þór Kristjánsson,Sigurbjörg Jenný Jónsdóttir,Grétar Ingi Erlendsson,Erla Sif Markúsdóttir Skoðun
Um Liverpool, Diogo Jota, áföll og sorgina – hugleiðingar sálfræðings Andri Hrafn Sigurðsson Skoðun
Martin bakari flýgur heim með látum frá leikvelli auðmanna í Vatnsmýrinni Daði Rafnsson,Haukur Magnússon,Kristján Vigfússon,Margrét Manda Jónsdóttir Skoðun
Skoðun Martin bakari flýgur heim með látum frá leikvelli auðmanna í Vatnsmýrinni Daði Rafnsson,Haukur Magnússon,Kristján Vigfússon,Margrét Manda Jónsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Um Liverpool, Diogo Jota, áföll og sorgina – hugleiðingar sálfræðings Andri Hrafn Sigurðsson skrifar
Skoðun Hjúkrunarheimili í Þorlákshöfn Gestur Þór Kristjánsson,Sigurbjörg Jenný Jónsdóttir,Grétar Ingi Erlendsson,Erla Sif Markúsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Stöðug uppbygging orkuinnviða Adrian Pike,Bjarni Þórður Bjarnason,Tómas Már Sigurðsson skrifar
Skoðun Tvöföld mismunun kvenna í hópi innflytjenda Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar
Skoðun Tækni og ungmenni: Hvar liggur ábyrgðin og hvað getum við gert? Stefán Þorri Helgason skrifar
Skoðun Hvað gerir brjóstakrabbamein að ólæknandi brjóstakrabbameini? Helga Tryggvadóttir,Ólöf Kristjana Bjarnadóttir skrifar
Skoðun Hugsanlega löglegt, en siðlaust og grimmt — af hundsráni í GOGG Kristinn Ka. Nína Sigríðarson skrifar
Hjúkrunarheimili í Þorlákshöfn Gestur Þór Kristjánsson,Sigurbjörg Jenný Jónsdóttir,Grétar Ingi Erlendsson,Erla Sif Markúsdóttir Skoðun
Um Liverpool, Diogo Jota, áföll og sorgina – hugleiðingar sálfræðings Andri Hrafn Sigurðsson Skoðun
Martin bakari flýgur heim með látum frá leikvelli auðmanna í Vatnsmýrinni Daði Rafnsson,Haukur Magnússon,Kristján Vigfússon,Margrét Manda Jónsdóttir Skoðun