The University's success depends on our human resources

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (3 December):

"Dear students and colleagues,

The budget proposals that have been submitted to parliament would give the Minister of Finance authority to proceed with plans to purchase Hótel Saga. For a while now, the University of Iceland has sought to acquire this sizeable building in the heart of our campus. If parliament approves the proposals and the University does acquire the building, the plan is that Saga will house the School of Education as well as a wide range of other University operations, and student accommodation managed by Icelandic Student Services. Ever since the unification of the University of Iceland and the Iceland University of Education, the School of Education has been based at Stakkahlíð. The goal has always been to eventually bring the educational sciences and other UI operations together in a single location. Hopefully this ambition will now be realised.

In other news of University buildings, many of you are naturally wondering about the delays in renovating the University Centre and Gimli after the serious water damage that occurred at the beginning of this year. First of all, I would like to thank you for your remarkable patience and for working and studying for far too long under circumstances that are much more challenging than normal. The causes of the delays are:

• We are still waiting for the professional advisory opinion report, which will be used as evidence in the unavoidable legal proceedings.
• Stefán Geir Þórisson, the lawyer who will be representing the University in this matter, has advised UI not to begin any work until the report is published in order to avoid corrupting the evidence and weakening our case.
• Evaluating such an enormous amount of damage is a considerable task, which unfortunately is proceeding more slowly than we would have hoped.
• Two reports on the extent of the damage have been completed but the report we are waiting for concerns the financial impact of the damage.
• Unfortunately it is impossible to say precisely when we can expect the advisory opinion report to be completed, but it should now be in the final stages.
• Work on producing a draft strategy in collaboration with the University's lawyer is well underway. Once the advisory opinion report is complete, the University is ready to initiate legal proceedings, following which work on these urgent renovations will start immediately.

The ruling coalition recently announced the agreement of a new Icelandic government and the founding of a new Ministry of Science, Industry and Innovation. The post of minister has been assigned to Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir. We congratulate Áslaug Arna on her new role and look forward to working together.

The new Strategy of UI aims to systematically promote a motivating work environment, with focus on the well-being of all. UI will strive to attract ambitious individuals from diverse backgrounds in order to boost the University's domestic standing and international competitiveness. We sometimes say that the University's role is to tackle challenges, lead informed debates, and pursue research and innovation. The University's success is primarily based on human intelligence, our human resources, all of us at the University.

We are extremely fortunate to have an incredible community of people working and studying at the University of Iceland. Their ingenuity, dedication and passion are the main forces that drive us forward. Yesterday, four University of Iceland employees were recognised for outstanding professional contributions in the fields of teaching, research, equality, and other work for the University. The awards were presented to Matthew James Whelpton, Guðmundur Hrafn Guðmundsson, Kristín Magnúsdóttir and the students and teaching staff on a vocational diploma programme at the Faculty of Health Promotion, Sports and Leisure Studies. My heartfelt congratulations to them all on this well deserved achievement.

Dear students and colleagues, Unfortunately, we continue to hear disappointing reports of the spread of COVID-19. It is vital that we remain committed to the infection control measures. We must continue to comply with the rules and do our best to prevent the spread of the virus. We should all get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. Remember to wear a mask, wash hands thoroughly, and use disinfectant. Over the next few days, equipment will be set up in order to establish a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing site in the University Centre. The plan is to open the testing site on Tuesday and I urge you all to make use of the service, which of course will be free, to help keep us all safe.

Now is one of the most stressful times of the year for all our students, with the final exams for the autumn semester in full swing. Thorough preparation is absolutely key to exam performance, but your results will also be considerably improved by getting enough rest and taking regular breaks from reading and assignments. I wish all you students the best of luck and all teaching staff encouragement in the final push before the end of the semester.

Let's look out for one another and remember to take care of your own well-being at this busy time.

Have a good weekend.

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"