We are all the University of Iceland

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (27 August 2021):

"Dear students and colleagues,

The new academic year is now in full swing and it is wonderful to see life returning to the University of Iceland campus. It is also great to see people following the infection control measures. The actions of every individual matter, since personal steps to prevent infection can make all the difference when it comes to controlling the spread of the virus. 

The main rules at the University are as follows:

• Maintain a distance of 1 metre from other people. 
• Masks are required where it is not possible to maintain 1 metre distance. 
• To reduce the risk of infection, we recommend that people wear masks in corridors, which are no-stopping zones.
• It is permissible to remove your mask once you are seated in the classroom, even if you are less than 1 metre from other people.
• The maximum number of people permitted in the same space is 200. 

As the academic year gets underway, our main focus is of course on education. But there are a lot of things to think about, especially for those of you taking your first steps into higher education. The University of Iceland is an open and diverse community united around learning and research and we welcome you with open arms. Introduction meetings for new students are already taking place across campus and orientation week starts on Monday, with as diverse a programme as could be organised under the current circumstances. I urge all our new students to check out the welcome page on the University website and remember that student services can be accessed both on campus and through the online web chat. Do not hesitate to ask staff or your fellow students any questions you might have about accommodation or how things work at the University. We are all eager to help. 

A lot of people have been wondering what will happen if an infection is linked to the University. The Director of Health has now issued guidelines for quarantine in the education system. According to these guidelines, those who were in the same infection control zone as the infected person, e.g. in the same classroom, will either be required to quarantine, or put on infection alert ('smitgát') or symptom watch ('einkennavarúð'), depending on how closely they were in contact with the infected person. 

Classrooms at the University of Iceland are well ventilated. This means that not everyone who attended the same class as the infected person needs to go into quarantine. To help us work out the proximity between different people in a class, the University is now finalising a digital registration system that will allow students to record their location in the classroom simply by scanning a QR code. This trial solution will be presented in the next few days.

Research has repeatedly confirmed the importance of vaccination, which not only reduces the likelihood of infection but also the chances of severe illness and hospitalisation. I therefore encourage all of you who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. 

The University of Iceland is an open and international research university, widely respected around the world. We engage in fruitful collaboration with prestigious educational institutions across the world. International researchers and lecturers are welcome guests who inspire us and make our University competitive on the global stage. As the semester starts in earnest, such visitors are expected on campus. We recommend that any guests coming from overseas take a rapid antigen test or go to be screened before coming to the campus. This is to help guarantee everyone's safety.

Dear students and colleagues, 

Let's look ahead to the winter with optimism in our hearts. Together, we will do everything we can foster the unique spirit that imbues everything we do at the University. That spirit is not down to any one individual, nor is it something that develops automatically. The UI spirit is to be found not just in learning and research, but in conversation and collaboration between everyone who studies and works here.  Together, we shape an environment where people can flourish and new knowledge is born. We are all the University of Iceland.

Have a good weekend. 

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"