The spirit of Advent at UI

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (10 December):

"Dear students and colleagues,

The University of Iceland will be filled with the spirit of Advent this lunchtime as the singers Marína Ósk and Stína Ágústs and an accompanying band perform a Christmas Concert in Litla Torg. It will undoubtedly be a magical experience and we will be livestreaming the event, meaning that everyone will be able to watch and listen. The recording will also be available to watch afterwards. Many of you are hard at work with exams these days, but hopefully most of you will be able to put your books aside for a while to enjoy the music. Academic success can seldom be attained in one fell swoop. Exam performance will reflect the cumulative impact of all the work you have done this autumn and winter and in preparation for the exams themselves. I wish you the best of luck with the final exams, dear students and teaching staff. 

UI is a research university that prioritises high-quality and international PhD programmes; doctoral studies play a key role in driving the progress that is built on research at the University. The new comprehensive strategy for UI focuses on making our doctoral programmes even stronger. One step that we are taking in order to achieve this goal is to establish the role of Ombudsman for PhD students. The Ombudsman will provide impartial advice and assistance with all aspects of doctoral studies. The Ombudsman will also work with PhD students to resolve any problems that may arise in the course of their programmes. This is a significant move in the spirit of the new strategy, which aims to strengthen research-based studies and ensure that the University is a good place to work for us all.

The newly founded Education Research Fund from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has now awarded its first round of grants. The Fund is managed by the Icelandic Centre for Research and supports applied research in primary and secondary education and after-school activities. It aims to increase opportunities for creating and communicating knowledge that promotes advancement and reform in schooling. Educational science is vital to the development of the education system. Research in this field has seldom been so crucial, now in a time of rapid social change and incredible technological advances that are transforming teaching and communication. Two staff members and two PhD students from three schools at the University of Iceland recently received research grants from the Education Research Fund, in the face of stiff competition. The winning projects focus on topics like pupils with diverse linguistic backgrounds, drop-out rates in upper secondary schools, and the shortening of upper secondary schooling – all extremely significant challenges in education. Congratulations to the four recipients of these grants, which together total almost ISK 73 million. 

The final meeting of the University Council this semester took place yesterday. The main topics of discussion were finance, building works and planning issues at the University. The final details about governmental funding allocated to the University depend on Parliament approving the budget. Once we have this information confirmed, the University Council will determine the internal distribution of funding at its meeting in mid January.

Many of you who have visited the University Centre this week will have noticed the new COVID-19 rapid antigen testing site, which is proving extremely successful so far. By opening this testing site, UI intends to improve services as one of the biggest workplaces in the country, as well as promoting stronger infection control that will protect us all. Rapid antigen tests can be booked online at covidtest.is or hradprof.is and the tests take just 15 seconds to perform. Remember to follow the public health rules. By keeping ourselves safe, we help to keep everyone else safe as well. 

Dear students and colleagues, 

The festive season is almost upon us and the lights are appearing in windows and gardens. Now at the darkest time of the year, we must let that light into our hearts. Look out for one another and take care. 

Have a good weekend. 

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"