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The Student council celebrates! Matarspor is up in Háma at Háskólatorg!

The Student Council initiated the project, but Inga Huld, a Student council member at the time,  submitted a proposal at a Student Council meeting in January 2022 that the Student Council would push for Matarspor to be implemented at HÍ, which was well received by the school authorities and Félagsstofnun Stúdenta who were in charge the implementation.

The carbon footprint is calculated for the hot meals and soups in Háma and it is put into context with how far a passenger car would have to be driven to release the same amount of greenhouse gases. It is easy to see the difference since there is always one meal and one soup vegan in Hámu. The next steps are to publish the information on Ugla so that people across campus can see the information.

The Student Council celebrates that this idea has become a reality and encourages students and staff to familiarize themselves with the carbon footprint before choosing a meal.

You can read more about Matarspor here: https://www.efla.is/thjonusta/umhverfi/matarspor 

 

The Student Council of the University of Iceland has extended the application deadline for the position of Editor of the Student Paper for the school year 2023 – 2024. 

The Editor of the Student Paper oversees the publication of the student handbook (Akademían), which is published at the beginning of each school year, as well as the Student Paper (Stúdentablaðið) which is published four times per school year, two issues each semester. Further timing on each issue depends on the decision of the Editor and the Student Council’s office. The Editor appoints an editorial board and directs its work. He is also responsible for publishing material from the Student Paper its website and is responsible for distributing the paper.

The Editor assists with the collection of advertisements for the paper as the Managing director oversees the operation of the newspaper.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and interest in student affairs
• Experience in media and publishing
• Experience in graphic design is an advantage
• Good general computer skills
• Knowledge of web management is an advantage
• Good knowledge of both Icelandic and English
• Initiative and ability to work independently
• Willingness and ability to work with Student Council members, the Student Council office and other stakeholders
• Other education and experience relevant to the position

The Editor is hired for a 20% work rate during the period June 1st 2023 to September 1st 2023, with an increase to 30% from September 1st 2023 to May 31st 2024. Working hours can be flexible by agreement. For further information regarding the role please contact the current Editor of Stúdentablaðið, at the e-mail address studentabladid@hi.is.

A cover letter, CV and recommendations should be sent via email to shi@hi.is with the subject “Editor 2023-2024”. In addition, it is desirable that the applicant’s view of Stúdentablaðið and ideas for publications are included, as well as a sample of his work if the person in question has previously worked as a writer. The application deadline is 7th of May, 2023.

 

The Student Council of the University of Iceland is looking for an International Officer and an Editor for the Student Paper for the term 2023 – 2024.

The Student Council office has four elected representatives; president, vice-president, interest representative and a loan fund representative who were elected at the council’s last election meeting. Wednesday. The office also employs a Manager, the Editor for the Student Paper and an International officer.

The deadline for both positions is until midnight May 1st 2023. Applications received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.

International Officer

The International Officer will oversee services provided for international students with the aim of protecting their interests, helping them become active participants in the University community, answering their requests and questions and providing other assistance. The International Officer is a confidant for international students at the University and shall be able to provide telephone and email assistance as needed. The International Officer will also participate in the day-to-day operations of the Student Council Office in cooperation with the president of the Student Council.

The International Officer also works as the representative of students in the Aurora European Universities Network and Alliance. There they will supervise projects in cooperation with the Aurora contacts within the University of Iceland and help with any projects they are assigned to. They will also oversee preparation for conferences and other events related to Aurora, and participate as is seen fit.

Qualifications:

• Initiative and ability to work independently
• Excellent social skills
• Strong communication skills, both verbally and in written text, in both Icelandic and English
• Interest in the work of the Student Council and students’ affairs in addition to being an active member of the University community.
• Experience in event planning or organizing is an advantage
• International experience is an advantage
• Knowledge of the administration of the University of Iceland is an advantage
• Knowledge of the Aurora Network is an advantage
• Other language knowledge is an advantage

The Student Council’s International Officer is a 50% position available for one year with the possibility of extended employment. Applicants must be able to begin work on June 1st 2023. For further information regarding the role, contact the current International Officer Alma Ágústsdóttir via the email internationalcommittee@hi.is or the Student Council at shi@hi.is.

A cover letter, resume and list of references should be sent via email to shi@hi.is with the subject heading ‘’SHÍ International Officer 2023-2024.’’

Editor of the Student Paper

The Editor of the Student Paper oversees the publication of the student handbook (Akademían), which is published at the beginning of each school year, as well as the Student Paper (Stúdentablaðið) which is published four times per school year, two issues each semester. Further timing on each issue depends on the decision of the Editor and the Student Council’s office. The Editor appoints an editorial board and directs its work. He is also responsible for publishing material from the Student Paper its website and is responsible for distributing the paper.

The Editor assists with the collection of advertisements for the paper as the Managing director oversees the operation of the newspaper.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and interest in student affairs
• Experience in media and publishing
• Experience in graphic design is an advantage
• Good general computer skills
• Knowledge of web management is an advantage
• Good knowledge of both Icelandic and English
• Initiative and ability to work independently
• Willingness and ability to work with Student Council members, the Student Council office and other stakeholders
• Other education and experience relevant to the position

The Editor is hired for a 20% work rate during the period June 1st 2023 to September 1st 2023, with an increase to 30% from September 1st 2023 to May 31st 2024. Working hours can be flexible by agreement. For further information regarding the role please contact the current Editor of Stúdentablaðið, at the e-mail address studentabladid@hi.is.

A cover letter, CV and recommendations should be sent via email to shi@hi.is with the subject “Editor 2023-2024”. In addition, it is desirable that the applicant’s view of Stúdentablaðið and ideas for publications are included, as well as a sample of his work if the person in question has previously worked as a writer.

Rakel Anna Boulter was elected the new President of the Student Council of the University of Iceland (SHÍ) on April 19th. The election took place at a special election meeting of the council held online. The new Rights Office and the newly elected Student Council will formally take office after the exchange meeting in May.

Rakel Anna will graduate with a Bachelor degree in Comparative literature from the University of Iceland in June 2023. Alongside her studies, she has worked as a ranger at Vatnajökull National Park and Þingvellir national park, and at the office of the Environmental agency. Rakel also graduated from Menntaskólinn á Akureyri in 2019.

Last year, Rakel was the President of the School Council of the School of Humanities and a member of the Board of the Student Council and the Board of the School of Humanities. Rakel has also served as a student representative on the University Council’s Academic Affairs Committee. She has also been on the board of the Ranger association (Landvarðafélagið) for two years.

“The Student Council has been on a good journey in recent years and I am excited to lead that work forward. There are major issues on the agenda of the Ministry of Higher Education where the voice of students must be heard, such as the review of the education fund and the review of the universities’ funding model. There are interesting times ahead in the university community, which will undoubtedly undergo drastic changes because of artificial intelligence. This includes various challenges, but no less an opportunity to change and improve teaching methods and increase the quality of education” says Rakel Anna.

At the election meeting, the following representatives were also elected to the Student Rights Office:

Vice President: Dagmar Óladóttir

Interest representative: Rannveig Klara Guðmundsdóttir

Student Loan Representative: Gísli Laufeyjarson Höskuldsson

 

From left: Rakel Anna, Dagmar, Gísli, Rannveig.

Elections to the Student Council took place on March 22nd and 23rd, and the election results can be found on our website. 

Following the elections, a new Student Council elects its representatives for the Student Council’s rights office, as well as electing other members within the Council. The election meeting will be held on April 19th, 2023, at 17:00 in O-101.

According to paragraph 9 of the Student Council’s laws, the Council’s meetings are open to all students at the University of Iceland. 

At the election meeting it is possible to run for President, Vice-President, Student Interest Representative and Student Loan Fund Representative. Also for the Student Council’s standing committees and other positions on behalf of the Council. Those who are elected at the election meeting take office after the exchange meeting, cf. Article 4 of the Student Council’s law. Eligible for election to the Council’s rights office, committees and other positions are all those who have been registered at the University of Iceland in the last three years before the election meeting.

Office Elected at Student Council Office, in accordance with the Council law:

• The President of the Student Council 
• Vice-President of the Student Council
• Student Loan Fund Representative 
• Student Interest Representative

Committees, in accordance with the Council law:

• • Four representatives are elected for the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee, the International Affairs Committee, the Transportation and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Family Affairs Committee, the Cultural and Social Events Committee and the Amendments Committee. 
  • Two representatives are elected for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee.

• Five representatives are elected to the Equal Rights Committee, one from each school and those members also sit on the equality committee within each school.

At the election meeting, only newly elected representatives of the Student Council have voting rights. If candidates are more than the number of positions, a proportional vote is necessary. If more than one person is elected in a specific election, the person who receives the most votes wins the position, then the person who comes next, and so on. 

Nominations for the positions must be submitted to the chair of the meeting, who is also the President of the Student Council, Rebekka Karlsdóttir, before the election meeting at shi@hi.is or at the meeting itself.

Please contact the office of the Student Council at shi@hi.is if you have questions regarding the meeting agenda.

Meeting agenda

1. Meeting begins
2. Election of the President of the Student Council 2022-2023 (voting)
3. Election of Vice President of the Student Council 2022-2023 (voting)
4. Election of the Interest Representative of Student Council 2022-2023 (voting)
5. Election of Student Loan Representative of the Student Council 2022-2023(voting)
6. Nominations for the Student Council’s schools by the organizations 2022-2023 (voting)
7. Nominations for the Student Council’s committees by the organizations 2022-2023 (voting)
8. Election of the Aurora Student council representative 2022-2023 (voting)
9. Election of vice-representatives of the Student Council 2022-2023 (voting)
10. Nominations for the University Assembly by the organizations 2022-2023 (voting)
11. Other issues

The meeting takes place in Icelandic.

You can now apply for grants in the fourth and final allocation of the Student Fund this school year.

The application form can be found here and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the fund, especially its laws and code of practice before applying. The application deadline is until 12:00pm on April 11th 2023. Late applications will automatically be turned away. 

Diagnostic and maintenance grants will be granted in this allocation.

Any questions can be directed to Dagný Þóra Óskarsdóttir, the fund’s chairperson. She can be reached by email at studentasjodur@hi.is.

Elections to the Student Council of the University of Iceland took place on March 22 and 23. The total voter turnout was 32.54%. The following members were elected to the Student Council:

School of Social Sciences

• Arna Dís Heiðarsdóttir (Röskva)
• Daníel Hjörvar Guðmundsson (Vaka)
• Emilía Björt Írisard. Bachmann (Röskva)
• Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson (Vaka)
• Kristmundur Pétursson (Röskva)

School of Health Sciences:

• Sigríður Helga Kárdal Ásgeirsd. (Röskva)
• Daníel Thor Myer (Röskva)
• Elísabet Sara Gísladóttir (Vaka)

School of Education:

• Júlíana Dögg Önnudóttir Chipa (Vaka)
• Tanja Sigmundsdóttir (Röskva)
• Dagbjört Ósk Jóhannsdóttir (Röskva)

School of Engineering and Natural Sciences:

• María Rós Kaldalóns (Röskva)
• Davíð Ásmundsson (Röskva)
• Eiður Snær Unnarsson (Vaka)

School of Humanities:

• Guðni Thorlacius (Röskva)
• Júlía Karín Kjartansdóttir (Röskva)
• Steinunn Kristín Guðnadóttir (Röskva)

More detailed election results can be found here.

Elections to the student council will take place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd of next March. There, the students of each academic field will elect a representative in the Student Council for one year. The elections are electronic and take place at Uglunn. The opening hours of the voting system at Ugla will be from 09:00 on March 22 to 18:00 on March 23.

The deadline for turning in the list of candidates was at 18:00 on March 12. There are two lists of candidates at all of the Schools, but in addition one individual candidacy in the School of Humanities.

Candidates for Student Council 2023 are as follows:

School of Social Sciences

Röskva

1. Arna Dís Heiðarsdóttir, stjórnmálafræði
2. Emilía Björt Írisardóttir Bachmann, lögfræði
3. Kristmundur Pétursson, félagsráðgjöf
4. Lars Davíð Gunnarsson, viðskiptafræði
5. Katha Aþena G. Þorsteinsdóttir, félagsfræði

Vaka

1. Daníel Hjörvar Guðmundsson, lögfræði
2. Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson, hagfræði
3. Signý Pála Pálsdóttir, stjórnmálafræði
4. Magnús Daði Eyjólfsson, viðskiptafræði
5. Jóhanna Freyja Ásgeirsdóttir, félagsráðgjöf

School of Health Sciences

Röskva

1. Sigríður Helga Kárdal Ásgeirsdóttir, sálfræði
2. Daníel Thor Myer, læknisfræði
3. Kristrún Vala Ólafsdóttir, hjúkrunarfræði

Vaka

1. Elísabet Sara Gísladóttir, lífeindafræði
2. Margrét Hörn Jóhannsdóttir, næringarfræði
3. Magnús Geir Kjartansson, lífeindafræði

School of Humanities

Einstaklingsframboð

Daníel Daníelsson, ritlist

Röskva

1. Guðni Thorlacius, heimspeki
2. Júlía Karín Kjartansdóttir, íslenska
3. Steinunn Kristín Guðnadóttir, enska

Vaka

1. Magnús Orri Magnússon, heimspeki
2. Gunndís Eva Reykdal Baldursdóttir, margmiðlunarfræði
3. Sólveig Franklínsdóttir, guðfræði

School of Education

Röskva

1. Tanja Sigmundsdóttir, tómstunda- og félagsmálafræði
2. Dagbjört Ósk Jóhannsdóttir, grunnskólakennsla með áherslu á erlend tungumál
3. Lena Stefánsdóttir, þroskaþjálfafræði

Vaka

1. Júlíana Dögg Önnudóttir Chipa, tómstunda- og félagsmálafræði
2. Sveinn Ægir Birgisson, grunnskólakennsla með áherslu á stærðfræði
3. Alex Elí Schweitz Jakobsson, tómstunda- og félagsmálafræði

School of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Röskva

1. María Rós Kaldalóns, hugbúnaðarverkfræði
2. Davíð Ásmundsson, verkfræðileg eðlisfræði
3. Fjóla María Sigurðardóttir, jarðeðlisfræði

Vaka

4. Eiður Snær Unnarsson, umhverfis- og byggingarverkfræði
5. Þorri Jökull Þorsteinsson, vélaverkfræði
6. María Árnadóttir, vélaverkfræði

The Student Council has approved the following rules when it comes to communication with voters and other candidates in the upcoming Student Council elections.

1. Voters‘ rights to a secret election should be protected throughout. Under no circumstances should a voter be made to prove they have voted or to show their ballot.
2. It is impermissible to host events during the time of ongoing elections that infringe on voters‘ rights to a secret election.
3. Parties are not permitted to direct voters to rearrange candidates in order to influence the election results and get more of their candidates elected than would have been secured through a straight-forward vote for the party‘s list of canditates, this is in accordance with the 33rd article of the Student Council laws regarding the election process.
4. Distributing election material within the University is permitted. When it comes to such a distribution, the university‘s rules should be followed, i.e. by employing boards and areas that explicitly allow posters and other such materials.
5. An organised distribution of election material in the university‘s buildings during election days is impermissible.
6. Any kind of destruction of other candidates and/or parties election material is impermissible.
7. The sharing of derogatory and hurtful comments is impermissible.

Minor infractions are those infractions that violate the overarching goal of a fair election without being considered particularly hurtful or done with malicious intent.

Major infractions include any sharing of derogatory or hurtful comments or malicious intent when it comes to breaking the laws of the Student Council and/or a brotherly election. If a major infraction occurs, the electoral commission will hand over a written reminder and publish said reminder on Facebook and/or Twitter.

The electoral commission will endeavour to resolve minor infractions without the need of a formal reminder. If minor infractions occur repeatedly, despite a verbal reminder, the electoral commission will hand over a written reminder and publish said reminder on Facebook and/or Twitter.

This list of infractions is not exhaustive. The electoral commission reserves the right to handle any unforseen potential infraction in what they consider to be an appropriate manner.

Approved by the Student Council on March 6 2023.

Years’ long battle for students’ interests has finally paid off!

 

Having to wait several long months before being allowed to sit a retake or sick exam is now ancient history! The authorisation to schedule the autumn semester’s sick exams for May has now been abolished and taken out of the university’s rules, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Student Council and the university council’s student representatives!

 

This means that, starting next academic year, all retake and sick exams for the autumn semester will be sat in December and January.

 

This was done through changing the university’s rules at a university council meeting last February 2.

 

This change was based on a proposal drafted by Rebekka Karlsdóttir, then a Student Council member and currently the president of the Student Council, and Ingvar Þóroddsson, and proposed to the Student Council on October 20 2021. The proposal suggested that the Student Council and the university council’s student representatives unite their efforts to bring about a change in the university’s rules so that they no longer allow the autumn semester’s sick exams to be sat in May. The then student representatives of the university council, Isabel Alejandra Díaz and Jessý Jónsdóttir, followed up on this by putting forth a proposal detailing this change within the university council, alongside Student Council members from the School of Social Sciences.

 

The Student Council would like to thank all those who contributed to this victory in achieving equal rights of students, regardless of faculty.