Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements from the University Rector to students and staff on 3 April:

"Dear students and colleagues,

We are now coming to the end of another week of this pandemic which has had such an enormous impact on all our lives and work. For all of you, this has been a test of your creative powers, initiative and tenacity in meeting new challenges, with all interaction now almost entirely digital. We all miss our old lives, not least now that we feel this awful disease tightening its grip on our small nation. We understand now how important it is to stand united, not just as a nation, but that all humankind must come together to defeat this virus.

When I look back over recent days and weeks, first and foremost I feel pride in everything that you have achieved. Teaching and learning methods have been transformed in record time and, working as a team, we have safeguarded the quality of our study programmes. Above all, I am grateful towards you all.

We all see the incredible efforts people are making across our society, not least in the healthcare system where people are now working day and night. The University is ready to lend all its power and collective knowledge to support this invaluable work. One of the things that has touched me most is to see our students standing in the front line to help the healthcare system and the government.

The value of knowledge and well educated people has never been so evident. Your solidarity and altruism fills me with optimism that the University will weather this terrible storm.

When the sun came out this week, my thoughts turned to spring and the lines from Halldór Laxness: „Bráðum kemur betri tíð með blóm í haga, sæta lánga sumardaga.“ („Better times are on the way, with flowers in the meadow; long, sweet summer days.“)

It inspired me to believe that these trials facing us will pass, but to have the victory we must work together now more than ever before.

Now the weekend is here, let's remember to follow all the guidance provided by the Chief Epidemiologist and the Department of Civil Protection. I know not everyone is able to relax at the weekend, because many of you have demanding work that will not wait. Still, let us give ourselves a moment to think of each other and everything that makes life worth living.

I wish you all the very best, dear students and colleagues,

Best regards,

Jón Atli Benediktsson
Rector of the University of Iceland"