Aurora offers exciting opportunities for UI students

The Aurora network, which the University of Iceland is a member of, offers UI students a variety of exciting opportunities in the new academic year. Whether students are interested in learning about international collaborative projects, improving their transversal skills or participating in exciting courses abroad, Aurora has something to offer to every student.

Aurora invites students to participate directly in its endeavours through the Aurora Student Champion or Ambassador schemes. By participating, students are simultaneously given the opportunity to participate directly in international projects, improve their skills for their future career and receive a grant to participate in the Aurora student conference. Students who wish to become an "Aurora Student Champion" or an "Aurora Ambassador" apply to participate by filling out an application form. The application deadline is the 18 September. An introductory meeting will be held on Friday, 9 September at 3 p.m. in Oddi room O-201 for students who want more information about Aurora. Alma Ágústdóttir, president of the Aurora student council, and Harpa Sif Arnarsdóttir, Aurora Institutional Coordinator, will present the opportunities and answer questions.

A lot to gain from Aurora Student Schemes

Antonia Hamann, master´s student in Environment and Natural Resources, took an active part in the Aurora Student Schemes last academic year as an Aurora Student Champion. She says that the participation has had many positive effects on her. "I have learned, for example, to use design thinking methodology to develop solutions under the supervision of experts in a workshop in Spain with other students. I gained a lot personally as well from my participation in Aurora by meeting and talking to amazing people from different countries. We both worked together and enjoyed events together and some of these people have become my good friends”.

She says, however, that her participation in a working group that is developing a new Aurora master's programme in the field of “digital society” was the highlight of the academic year. There, she shared the student viewpoints and took part in a conference in Amsterdam about the topics that the programme will cover. "It was really exciting to see how a master´s programme is developed and to contribute to it. The highlight of this working group was the "Connecting Worlds" conference in Amsterdam which I attended. There, we continued to talk about the programme in person and I got to meet professors and students who are involved in the project".

Exciting courses offered online

Antonia recommends that students check out the Aurora Student Schemes and consider participating in them. “I would definitely recommend participating in the Aurora schemes because it is a great experience to meet students online or in person who are outside your faculty, university or even country and talk about relevant topics regarding your university. I would advise students who will participate to be pro-active in suggesting topics they want to talk about and to not be shy to share their ideas within their working group". 

Aurora also offers exciting courses this autumn semester and students are encouraged to visit the new Aurora Virtual Campus to explore the opportunities. Among other things, you can find courses that students can take online at the University of Innsbruck which cover the topic of sustainability from different perspectives. The application deadline is the 4 September and students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply. Particular attention is drawn to a new course developed by Aurora, Perspectives on Europe in a Global Context, which tackles European matters from various perspectives. “In light of the events that have taken place in Europe this year, it is very important that universities teach students about the history of the continent, the diverse cultures within it, the importance of European cooperation and the main challenges that come with it" says Guðmundur Hálfdánarson, professor of history, who leads the working group developing a new programme within Aurora that focuses on issues relating to cultures, diversities and identities within Europe.

About Aurora

Aurora is a collaboration of 9 universities across Europe, which centres around increasing the quality and innovation in higher education in line with rapid societal changes and strengthening the search for solutions to the challenges facing humanity. To that end, the Aurora universities intend to create opportunities for students to gain international experience in their studies and the ability, knowledge and drive to become social entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.