The University of Iceland and Samtökin ’78, the National Queer Organisation of Iceland, have signed a two-year cooperation agreement to strengthen education and counselling on issues affecting queer people and their position within the education system. The agreement focuses particularly on programmes offered by the University of Iceland School of Education that prepare future professionals in the Educational system.
Under the agreement, representatives of Samtökin ’78 will meet annually with the School of Education's Equal Rights Committee to discuss the organisation and focus of gender and equality studies within the School's degree programmes.
Samtökin ’78 will also advise School of Education lecturers on teaching materials related to queer studies, terminology and language use, sex characteristics, and gender expression. Subject to further agreement, the organisation may guide student associations on creating social and cultural spaces for queer students. It may also support efforts to promote greater understanding of gender equality and gender studies among students.
In addition, lecturers at the School of Education may invite representatives of Samtökin ’78 to contribute specialised instruction to individual courses when appropriate.
The agreement was signed earlier this summer by Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland; Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, Chair of Samtökin ’78; and Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir, then Dean of the University of Iceland School of Education.
