The Student Council’s Rights Office is aware of the discussion that has taken place in recent days regarding distance learning at the University of Iceland. The Student Council has advocated for increased electronic teaching on the one hand and increased distance learning on the other hand in various ways and will continue to do so.
Regarding electronic learning, it has been a clear call of the Council that teaching methods should be developed with regard to the times we live in, with increased technology and more diverse teaching methods. Progress has been made with the introduction of an electronic examination system as well as a new study supervision system. In addition, there are other electronic solutions that are supposed to promote teaching development and it is important to continue to build on. After the challenges we have been going through for the past year and a half, electronic teaching methods should no longer be unfamiliar to us. It is important that the university can continue to respond to unforeseen student situations and thereby acquire flexibility in teaching methods, e.g. with recordings and streaming of lessons. The students’ call for more technological teaching methods is about ensuring access to studies and promoting equality among students.
With regard to distance learning, it is clear that the University of Iceland must do better if it is to meet the needs of a wider group of students. The distance learning plan of the University of Iceland will be implemented in the near future, and before that the Student Council will have access to it for review, and it will also be presented to students and staff. Today, certain study programs are available in distance learning and the School of Education has been at the forefront in this respect. It is important to look at the experience and work that is already taking place within the university and utilize it in other fields of study so that it will be possible to increase the selection of distance learning.
Equal access to education is a concern for students and is one of their most important interests. The Student Council’s Rights Office will continue to put pressure on it to be at the forefront with all available means. The most important thing is that the quality of the studies and teaching is ensured, because the University of Iceland must offer good and competitive education.
