Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (25 February 2022):
"Dear students and colleagues,
The sun is rising ever higher here in Iceland, but sadly these are dark days in global politics. Governments across the world are responding to the horrifying situation in Eastern Europe and UI scholars have done their best to shed light on the shocking developments of the past few days. My thoughts are with all those affected by the conflict and especially our staff and students who have family and friends in Ukraine. We must stand united and look out for one another.
As of midnight last night, all public health restrictions have been removed. The physical distancing rule is no longer in place and masks are no longer mandatory. This means that we can come together on campus once more, as we did before the pandemic. This is a moment we have been looking forward to for a long time and I encourage students to return to campus. Remember, though, to treat each other with consideration, especially those who wish to remain cautious. Although we can finally make full use of the facilities and services on campus, attend classes and work on-site, meet our friends, colleagues and fellow students, we must not forget the importance of hygiene in limiting the spread of disease.
The annual Digital University Day will be taking place tomorrow. All Icelandic universities will come together to present the full range of undergraduate programmes available next winter. This year, the open day will be held entirely online. This decision was taken jointly by university administrators some time ago, in light of the challenging circumstances we have been dealing with these past two years. Icelandic universities take their obligations to society very seriously and aim to guarantee not only the safety of our students and staff, but everyone who wants to find out more about the diverse options for higher education in Iceland.
Tomorrow we at the University of Iceland will be presenting all our undergraduate programmes between 12 pm and 3 pm. Prospective students will have the opportunity to chat with UI undergraduates on all programmes. It can be extremely helpful to have a good talk with the people who know a programme best – the students. I am extremely grateful to all the students who have given up their time to make this event a success. Surveys have clearly shown that student satisfaction at UI is high. I am particularly pleased to report that, despite the enormous challenges we have been facing this winter, new students are very happy with their studies at the University of Iceland.
The Digital University Day will also provide opportunities to chat with teaching staff or members of the Student Council, get advice on which programme to choose, and access information about the application process, exchange studies, and available services. All this will be offered through the UI web chat service, which can be found on our website. Tomorrow, users can choose to talk to someone from the Student Counselling and Career Centre, the Service Desk, Student Registration, the International Division, the Division of Information Technology or any of the UI schools.
Following the Digital University Day, the University of Iceland will offer walking tours for small groups around the campus. Prospective students can explore the site, buildings and facilities guided by current students. You can book a spot on a campus tour on the UI website.
I am very grateful to the huge numbers of people who have been involved in organising the University Day. Your work is absolutely vital, not just for UI, but for the whole of Icelandic society.
The Alumni Newsletter was published this week, full of fascinating content as usual, including discussion of a new television series about research and innovation at UI to be broadcast by Hringbraut, research into the origins of new tourist destinations with a focus on the Reykjanes eruption site, and the relationship between lies and hidden opinions. There are also articles about how children perceive the length of their day in preschool and an interview with a PhD student who wants to promote safer and more effective drug treatments. I urge you all to take a look at the newsletter.
Have a good weekend.
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"