The Aurora Student Council spoke on inclusion in higher education

Inclusion in higher education is the Aurora Student Council‘s (ASC) emphasis for this academic year, as introduced by the council during the Aurora Autumn Biannual, which took place at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic from 16 to 18 October.

Palacky is one of nine member universities of Aurora, a European university cooperation, along with the University of Iceland. Among the attendees were two student representatives: Nana Bruhn Rasmussen, International Officer of the Student Council of the University of Iceland and secretary of the Aurora Student Council, and Sigríður Helga Kárdal Ásgeirsdóttir, member of the Student Council of the University of Iceland and the Aurora Student Council. 

The Aurora Student Council led a specific plenary session at the Biannual where they spoke on diversity and inclusion, the importance of involving students in Aurora’s work during the student-led panel, and student remuneration.

The Student Council‘s emphasis last year was Mental Health and they presented the results of that work during the conference. Those results include information on all available mental health resources offered at Aurora universities. To follow up on this year‘s emphasis, student representatives from each university will identify three key areas that require improvement at their respective institutions.

Over the course of the Biannual, the Aurora Student Council drafted and adopted a mission statement as well as plans to create a 4 year strategy for the council.

The Mission Statement reads as follows:

• Aurora Student Council is on a mission to increase student power and inclusion of students in decision-making in Aurora.
• The Student Council works to increase general visibility and awareness of student opportunities and disseminating our presence throughout the partner universities at all levels, from the executive level to the student population.
• The Student Council strives to improve student life in higher education by advocating for student rights and inspiring local change through international cooperation and community.  
• The Student Council will work towards its goals by establishing a strategy spanning the 4 years included in the “Second Phase” of Aurora from 2023-2027. The Council will also establish an action plan to be executed within each term, containing, among other things, specific deliverables relating to the emphasis of the year, and aiming to create real change within the partner universities.  

The Aurora Student Council will meet again during an event that will take place in Reykjavík on November 21-22, to kick off the next phase of Aurora. There they will create promotional material, update the Student Handbook and begin work on their 4 year strategy.

Authors: 

• Nana Bruhn Rasmussen, International Officer of the Student Council of the University of Iceland and secretary of the Aurora Student Council, and
• Sigríður Helga Kárdal Ásgeirsdóttir, member of the Student Council of the University of Iceland and the Aurora Student Council.