The Leisure Day Annual conference of the Department of Leisure Studies

Leisure Day is an annual event organised by the Leisure Studies programme at the University of Iceland and the Research Centre for Leisure Studies. The aim of Leisure Day is to highlight the importance of leisure and social activities for communities, quality of life and individual development, to support dialogue between the professional field and the academic community, and to focus on current issues.

Leisure Day was first held in 2015 at the initiative of the Leisure Studies programme at the University of Iceland and the Research Centre for Leisure Studies. Leisure Day has been held almost continuously since then and in various formats. Students, professional associations and the professional field have generally been involved in the day in one way or another, and the theme of Leisure Day is usually related to a current issue or challenges in modern society. The focus has been on older people and their leisure activities, the informal learning of children and adolescents through participation in leisure and recreational activities, the challenges of technology and social media, bullying, well-being and outdoor activities, to name but a few.

This time, the theme of Leisure Day is 'Significant Others in People's Lives'. This refers to the role and professionalism of those who work in the leisure sector, in leisure and social activities with people of different ages. The focus is usually on children, adolescents and young people, but leisure and social studies professionals also work in healthcare institutions, rehabilitation and event management, to name a few examples.

Agenda

The conference director is Helgi Grímsson, a specialist at the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs

08:30 Morning Gathering

09:30 – Opening Address
Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland

09:35 – Youth Voice and Disaster Response
Dr. Dane Stickney, University of Colorado, Denver

09:50 – Leisure Activities and Government Youth Policy
Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson, Member of Parliament and Leisure and Social Education Scientist

10:05 – Ideas and Dreams of Fagfrí
Gísli Ólafsson, Chairperson of Fagfrí

10:20 – Actions Speak Louder Than Words: The work of the Leisure Studies Terminology Committee
Hulda Valdís Valdimarsdóttir, Project Manager at the Department of Education & Youth (SFS)

10:35 – Morning Coffee
Featuring a “Concept Wall” and networking

11:00 – Empowerment as a Leisure and Social Education Scientist working with marginalized youth
Melkorka Assa Arnardóttir, MA in Leisure and Social Education

11:15 – Racial and Cultural Prejudice
Sema Erla Serdaroglu, Adjunct Lecturer

11:30 – Issues and Policy-making in Youth Affairs
Eygló Rúnarsdóttir, Adjunct Lecturer

11:45 – Digital Youth Work
Benedikta Björg Sörensen Valtýsdóttir, Adjunct Lecturer

12:00 – Lunch Break

12:45 – Connection and Social Support: The significance of freshman orientation trips
Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir, Lecturer

13:00 – A Role Model who gives others courage
Hekla Björk Hólmarsdóttir, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Education

13:15 – “Legally Mandated Secret Service”: After-school centers in Iceland, public visibility and invisibility
Steingerður Kristjándsóttir, Adjunct Lecturer

13:30 – Freedom and Prevention
Árni Guðmundsson, Adjunct Lecturer

13:45 – Uncertainty and Innovation in Grindavík: Youth assembly and participatory research with young people
Jakob F. Þorsteinsson (Lecturer)
Elínborg Ingvarsdóttir (Leisure Scientist)
Kolbrún Dögg (Leisure Studies Student)
Dísa Jakobsdóttir (Kaospilot)

14:00 – Closing: Summary and looking to the future
Kolbrún Pálsdóttir, Dean of the School of Education

14:15 – Conclusion

Leisure Day is organised in collaboration with the Association of Professionals in Leisure Services and Fagfrí - The National Association for the Professional Development of After-School Programmes.