Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (14 May 2021):
"Dear students and colleagues
Even though spring has been on the cooler side summer is approaching. A clear sign of this is the end of the examination period of the spring semester at the University of Iceland. The execution of exams was a great success, and I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all, students and staff, for your incredible adaptability during this period. Your collaboration is not a given thing, but vital to the execution of the examinations in the current challenging circumstances. Ahead are makeup exams and the annual June graduation. As vaccinations progress the relaxation of social restrictions become more likely. If everything goes as planned we hope the graduation ceremony will take place in Laugardagshöll as per usual. Remember that the steps we take as individuals to prevent infection are the key to our success.
The UArctic Congress 21 opens at the University of Iceland tomorrw. The congress takes place from 15-18 May and is hosted by all UArctic higher education members in Iceland. Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, professor at the Faculty of Earth Sciences is currently the first Icelander on the board of the UArctic. At the opening and welcome ceremony, Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Outi Snellman, Vice-President of Organization at UArctic, and I address the congress. Then Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Director and Co-founder, Arctic Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School, will give her keynote address. Around 250 talks on issues concerning the Arctic are scheduled during the congress with special focus on climate change, people and communities in the Arctic. I encourage you all, especially students, to participate in this remarkable event; student participation is free of charge.
Summer courses at the University of Iceland have now been advertised and the wide variety of courses on offer can be found on the University website. By offering studies at all the five schools during the summer, the University of Iceland is reacting to the social conditions in the aftermath of the corona pandemic. Many of the courses are open to all, whilst some are especially tailored to the current student body and others planning university studies, or those wishing to improve their skills. Answers to FAQs regarding the arrangements of summer courses can be found on the University website. This is an ideal opportunity for students to use the summer to enhance their academic standing; registration opens on 17 May.
Like last summer, the University of Iceland offers numerous summer jobs for students, thus participating in government and the Directorate of Labour´s initiative in increasing the number of temporary jobs for students. For further information consult the overview of the summer jobs on the Directorate of Labour's website (in Icelandic).
Considering changes that have been made on laws on public universities regarding admissions, I wish to point out that this change will not affect the admission requirements for the next academic year, 2021-2022, at the University of Iceland. The University of Iceland is currently reviewing whether and then how to change the admission requirements for individual faculties considering the new law. This is part of a more extensive review on admission requirements at the University of Iceland, and is scheduled to be completed by next autumn.
Dear students and collueagues. Let us enjoy the light and all that is currently awakening in Icelandic nature as the Icelandic poet Hulda suggests: “Gleði, frelsi, friður, ró – faðmar allt í grænum mó.”.
Enjoy your weekend.
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"