Committees and Councils

The Equal Rights Committee of UI oversees equality in a broad sense and, as stated by article 65 of the constitution of Iceland, is to have gender equality at the forefront of its work.

Each of the schools within UI has Equal Rights Committees. Their chairpersons make up the central Equal Rights Committee of UI, along with the chairperson of Central Administrations Equal Rights Committee, a student representative and a chairperson appointed by the Rector.

Equal Rights Committee members appointed until 30 June 2023:

• Brynja Elísabeth Halldórsdóttir, Lecturer, School of Education, chairperson
• Ingólfur V. Gíslason, Professor, School of Social Sciences
• Sævar Ingþórsson, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Health Sciences
• Eyja Margrét Brynjarsdóttir, Professor, School of Humanities
• Jón Ingvar Kjaran, Professor, School of Education
• Esther Ruth Guðmundsdóttir, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Björn Atli Davíðsson, representative of Central Administration
• Bryndís Ólafsdóttir, Student Representative

Also, work with the Committee:

Arnar Gíslason, Sveinn Guðmundsson, Equality Officers

Students at the University of Iceland are involved with many equality projects. The Student Union has an Equal Rights Committee and Officer, as well as a Student Interests and Loan Officer and an International Committee. For more information visit the Student Union homepage. A few equality focussed student organisations have been founded which greatly add to equality work at the University.

The University Council appoints a Professional Council on responding to gender-related and sexual harassment and other sexual violence, in accordance with Article 3 of the below-linked rules of procedure (approved 16 January 2014). The appointments are valid for three years.

Members of the council are:

• Þóra S. Einarsdóttir, Psychologist at DMG, chair. Þóra can be reached by email at thora@dmg.is and by telephone at +354 770 7252.

• Finnborg Salome Steinþórsdóttir, Post-doctoral researcher in Gender Studies, Faculty of political Science
• Kári Hólmar Ragnarsson, Assistan Professor at the Fauclty of Law

Jónina Helga Ólafsdóttir, Project Manager at the Division of Human Resources, and Arnar Gíslason, UI Equality Officer, work with the council.

Rules of procedure on the response to gender-related and sexual harassment and other sexual violence at the University of Iceland

The Head of the Division of Human Resources appoints a Response Team for Bullying and Violence. Its role is to process matters relating to possible offences committed at the University of Iceland. The Response Team shall comprise three individuals with knowledge and experience in handling matters of this kind. Two members shall be staff members of the Division of Human Resources, including one of the lawyers of the Division. The third member shall be an external party.

Care must be taken to ensure that the Response Team is appointed in compliance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men, no. 10/2008.

The role of the Response Team is to receive and investigate complaints regarding bullying and violence at the University of Iceland, provide supervisors of the victim's and perpetrator's academic or organisational units with a statement on these complaints, and propose solution strategies.

The Response Team shall provide counsel for the Head of the Division of Human Resources as well as all administrative staff and management regarding preventive measures against bullying and violence.

During the process, the Response Team shall comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, no. 37/1993, for example concerning the right to be heard, duty to investigate, equal treatment of parties and prompt handling, as applicable. Consideration shall also be given to the eligibility rules stipulated in the Administrative Procedures Act regarding the suitability of team members to address issues each time.

The Complaints Committee for Student Issues operates in accordance with paragraph 3, Article 7 of the Regulation for the University of Iceland no. 569/2009.

The Committee's role is to address student complaints and appeals in accordance with Article 50 of the Regulation. In accordance with the nomination of the Rector, the University Council appoints three representatives to this Committee for a three-year term. The chair of the committee must be a lawyer.

The Complaints Committee for Student Issues
(until the end of January 2023)

• NN, chair (in progress)
• Hólmfríður Garðarsdóttir, Professor at the School of Humanities Faculty of Languages and Cultures
• Sóley S. Bender, Professor at the School of Health Sciences Faculty of Nursing

Ægir Guðbjarni Sigmundsson, Lawyer, Division of Science and Innovation, works with the Committee.

Procedures for student complaints and appeals

Procedures for student complains and appeals are discussed in Article 7 of the Regulation for the University of Iceland no. 569/2009. The main aspects of the process are also described in the  Course Catalogue.

A student may only refer their matter to the Complaints Committee for Student Issues if they have previously sent a written complaint to the head of the faculty in question AND if the final ruling or stance of the head of the faculty has been made, OR if three months have passed since the matter was first presented to the head of the faculty in writing. Appeals to the Complaints Committee for Student Issues shall be submitted in writing. The postal address for the Committee is:

University of Iceland
Complaints Committee for Student Issues
Division of Science and Innovation, Main Building
Sæmundargata 2
102 Reykjavík

The Rector of the University of Iceland appoints six people to the Council for Disability Rights every three years, in keeping with Article 12 of the Regulation on disability services for study at the University of Iceland, no. 481/2010.

The Equality Officer of UI is the chairperson of the council.

Other members are appointed from the Student Counselling and Careers Centre, the Construction Division of UI, and the University Teachers and Professors Union, who must be specialised in the field of disability studies.

There is also a student representative appointed by the Student Union, who must fit the definition of special needs persons as stated in paragraph 1, Article 1 of the aforementioned regulation.

The Council is bound by laws regarding gender equality (law no. 10/2008, Article 15), which means that both genders must make up at least 40% of the Council.

Each school within UI shall appoint a staff member who is its liaison with the Council. The same applies to the Division of Human Resources and each student organisation.

The role of the Council for Disability Rights is to:

• Oversee issues concerning people with disabilities within UI as well as students with special needs, under the mandate from the Rector and University Council.
• Regularly review the policies of the University concerning people with disabilities.
• Prepare and follow the Equal Rights Policy concerning people with disabilities.
• Promote cooperation between those connected to disability issues, including the Student Counselling and Careers Centre, the Equal Rights Committee, the Division of Operations and Technical Services, along with various departments and schools at the University.
• Review and advise (as stated in Articles 14 and 15 of the Regulation on disability services) when requested by members of the University.
• Advise on the designing and planning of new buildings for the UI and make suggestions about improvements as needed. Also to make sure that access on campus is in compliance with policies regarding disability rights.
• Collect and publish a report on the situation of disabled people at the UI every three years.
• Initiate discussions and education about issues relating to disabilities within the University.
• Monitor developments and the situation of disability rights both within and outside the University, in Iceland and abroad, looking to ensure that disability rights are integrated into UI operations.

The Council for Disability Rights follows research connected to disabilities within the University and also educates and releases information and reports on universal access within the UI.

The Council works in close connection with the Student Counsellors and the Division of Operations and Technical Services. The Council can seek advice from people both within and outside the University as needed.

The current Council for Disability Rights members, appointed until 30 June 2022, are:

• Sveinn Guðmundsson, Equality Officer, chairperson
• Hanna Björg Sigurjónsdóttir, professor of Disability Studies, appointed by the University Teachers and Professors Union
• Ingólfur Aðalbjörnsson, Head of the Construction Division, appointed by the Division of Operations and Technical Services
• Þrúður Kristjánsdóttir, Social worker, appointed by the Student Counselling and Careers Centre
• Margrét Lilja Arnheiðardóttir, appointed by the Student Council.
• Styrmir Hallsson, appointed by the Student Council.

Council meetings are held monthly.

To contact the council email rumff@hi.is.

The Chair of the Ethics Committee is appointed by the University Council according to the Rector's nomination. The Association of University Teachers, as well as Professors' Union each, appoint one Committee Member.
When a complaint of a violation of the Code of Ethics is received, the Rector may appoint two additional members, depending on the nature of the case, to deal with the complaint, along with the Chair and the representatives of the teachers' associations. On behalf of the University Council, the Rector appoints these two members after receiving nominations from the Committee's Chair.
The Chair and representatives of the teachers' associations are appointed for a period of three years; however, the appointment of other members is limited to the relevant case. The Rector appoints a secretary to the Committee from the University staff.

The University of Iceland Code of Ethics, approved by the University Forum 7 November 2003.

Operational Rules for the Ethics Committee, approved at the 11th University General Forum on 7 November 2003, with amendments approved at the 21st University General Forum on 17 November 2006 and with amendments approved by the University Council on 13 October 2011.

Committee members 1 January - 31 December 2022:

• Skúli Skúlason, professor and former Rector of Hólar University, appointed by the University Council, in accordance with the nomination of the Rector, Chair
• Sólveig Anna Bóasdóttir, Professor, appointed by the Professors' Union
• Henry Alexander Henrysson, Former Adjunct Lecturer at the Faculty of History and Philosophy, appointed by the Association of University Teachers.

Björn Atli Davíðsson, Lawyer at the Rector's Office, works with the Committee.

Appeals to the Committee shall be sent in writing to:

University of Iceland
Ethics Committee
Main Building
Sæmundargata 2
102 Reykjavík

At the University of Iceland there are many research centres working on equality and diversity:

• EDDA – Center of Excellence
• The Institute of Human Rights
• MARK – Center for Diversity and Gender Research
• The Centre for Disability Studies
• The Research Centre for Migration and Multiculturalism
• RIKK – Institute for Gender, Equality and Difference
• Rannkyn – The Centre for Research on Equality, Gender and Education
• The Research Centre for School Inclusion