Weekend message from the Rector, 27 November

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, sent the following message to University staff and students today (27 November 2020):

"Dear students and colleagues,

Next week we will celebrate the centenary of the Student Council at the University of Iceland. The primary role of the Student Council is to protect the interests of students at the University and its work has proved vital, not just for students but for the University of Iceland and society as a whole for an entire century. Congratulations, students!

Over the years, many student leaders have gone on to make their marks in wider society and industry. This week, we learned that Elísabet Brynjarsdóttir, nurse and former President of the University of Iceland Student Council and the Aurora Student Group, has been selected as an outstanding young Icelander for her contributions in the area of philanthropy and volunteering.

This is just one of many examples of the impact that University of Iceland graduates have in Icelandic society and recently it was confirmed that the University is among the best universities in the world for delivering work-ready graduates. It is wonderful to receive this recognition.

Work is currently underway shaping the University of Iceland's strategy for the next five years and our aim is to make a good university even better. As part of this process, we are placing a strong emphasis on open and extensive consultation with all stakeholders, within and outside the University. For this reason, a special consultation portal has been opened on our website and you are all encouraged to directly influence the future and strategy of the University.

This year has demonstrated more plainly than ever the strength of our human resources at the University of Iceland. Next week we will honour members of staff for outstanding professional achievement. The awards will be presented at an information meeting with the Rector, which will be streamed online on 3 December.

The Advent season is almost upon us and, like everything else, it will look a bit different this year due to the pandemic. The theology students' mass will take place in a different form and the Ceremony for Doctoral Graduates, which is generally held on 1 December, the Day of Icelandic Sovereignty, will also be different. We will be celebrating the achievements of the 70 people who defended their doctoral theses this year with a special video to be released on the Day of Icelandic Sovereignty. The enhancement of doctoral studies at the University of Iceland has been one of our most important areas of advancement in recent years, and nobody can argue with the fact that education, research and innovation are the currency of the future.

Dear students, Final exams at the University of Iceland are starting next week, demanding a great deal of preparation and focus from you all. I truly hope that you do well in your exams. I want to remind you that strict infection control measures will be in place for all on-campus exams and that we will be fully complying with all public health regulations. In this context, I remind you of the page "FAQ about final exams" on the University website.

We have seen in the news this week that the number of new infections has unfortunately not been dropping as many expected and that it will therefore not be possible to relax individual infection control measures. This is not over. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a lot of the activities we generally associate with the run up to Christmas and the New Year. Let's enjoy the Advent season and the weekend ahead as best we can, but with caution.

Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector"