Three applications have been received for the post of rector of the University of Iceland. All three applicants are eligible to fill the post, as determined by the University Council. The Council has also appointed an electoral board for the upcoming elections.
The application deadline for the post of rector was Monday 9 March, by which time applications had been received from Einar Steingrímsson, Professor at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland; Guðrún Nordal, Professor and Director of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies; and Jón Atli Benediktsson, Professor and Pro-Rector at the University of Iceland. In accordance with the Regulation for the University of Iceland, the University Council is required to ensure that applicants are eligible to fill the post. In order to be eligible, applicants must have professorial competence, leadership qualities and a clear and ambitious vision for the University, excellent communication skills and extensive experience of management and policy-making. The three applications were reviewed at a meeting of the University Council today, and all applicants were determined to be eligible to fill the post of rector.
At the meeting, the University Council also appointed an electoral board for the elections. The election board acts on behalf of the University Council; its task is to oversee the compilation of the electoral rolls, determine the election date, manage the holding of the election, rule on appeals concerning the election, arrange absentee voting and attend to other aspects of the election. Elections for rector shall be held no later than six weeks after the deadline for applications.
Members of the electoral board are:
- Björg Thorarensen, Professor, Chair
- Hjálmtýr Hafsteinsson, Senior Lecturer
- Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir, Professor
- Trausti Fannar Valsson, Lecturer
- Bergþór Bergsson, student
- Álfrún Perla Baldursdóttir, student
Work is underway on the creation of informative web pages, both on the public University of Iceland website, and in the University intranet, Ugla. These pages will be designed for voters in the elections for rector and introduced in the next few days.