A Genuinely Inclusive University Giti Chandra skrifar 23. mars 2025 07:03 Magnús Karl Magnússon and I had our first conversation about the University of Iceland as a genuinely inclusive space when I approached him early last year with regard to a project I was doing. Those conversations intensified when he reached out to me a few months ago because of my work in connection with gender equality and decolonizing higher education. I was impressed by his willingness to connect to people working in areas other than his own. As our discussion has progressed, I have seen how integral these concerns are to his vision of the University, its role and its internal organization. The many, extensive, conversations have ranged over a wide array of issues that have focused on the changing demographics of the University of Iceland how the now 15-20% of foreign-origin students, faculty, and administrative and service staff experience HI. Along with colleagues, we have discussed the evolving challenges of the classroom in terms of curricula, pedagogy, and interpersonal dynamics, and thought extensively about how the different origins of students and faculty impact the process of learning that is central to the University. We have looked at the ways in which the University space can be made even more accessible to people with different physical and intellectual needs. In all of these, Magnús has listened attentively, spoken to each issue with knowledge and compassion, taken suggestions seriously, and thought of solutions and innovative approaches to each issue raised. I am convinced that Magnús is deeply serious about the need to improve the University as an inclusive space for everyone. From developing the idea of a committee comprising students, faculty, and administrative staff that would look into the social and ethical aspects of the University’s investments and collaborations and advise the rector on these concerns, to the overhauling of the sexual harassment complaints mechanism so that it is more effective and accessible, to making University websites more accessible for the neuro-divergent, he recognizes that nurturing diversity will make our University stronger in every respect. Magnús has demonstrated a practical knowledge of how the University is run, how it can rise to ever-changing challenges of finances, political situations, and solidarity-building, and what the position of the rector can do to institute systemic, structural, change. He has been thinking about and advocating for the University publicly for decades now, which is amply evident in this kind of careful, practice-based, attention to the University’s running and a genuine investment in its place in society. This investment can be seen in the fact that I was only one among hundreds of students, administrators, and faculty with whom he has had similar conversations over the last many months. Anyone similarly invested will appreciate the value of Magnús as rector. Höfundur er fræðimaður við Háskóla Íslands (Associate Professor at the University of Iceland). Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Rektorskjör við Háskóla Íslands Mest lesið Hin dásamlega sturlun: Umræðan á Íslandi Davíð Bergmann Skoðun Við getum öll bjargað lífi Kristófer Kristófersson Skoðun Opið bréf til innviðaráðherra Eyjólfur Þorkelsson Skoðun 90 milljarða vannýtt útflutningstækifæri Vilhjálmur Hilmarsson Skoðun „Hristir í stoðum“ RÚV? Hermann Stefánsson Skoðun Að bjarga þjóð Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson Skoðun Það er heldur betur vitlaust gefið á Íslandi Jónas Yngvi Ásgrímsson Skoðun Fyrir hvern erum við að byggja? Jóhanna Dýrunn Jónsdóttir Skoðun Að bera harm sinn í hljóði Gunnhildur Ólafsdóttir Skoðun Nýtt örorkulífeyriskerfi Inga Sæland Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Það sem gerist þegar formúlur og fordómar hafa of mikil áhrif Matthildur Björnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Látum verkin tala fyrir börnin á Gaza Gunnar Axel Axelsson skrifar Skoðun 90 milljarða vannýtt útflutningstækifæri Vilhjálmur Hilmarsson skrifar Skoðun Tvær sögur Egill Þ. Einarsson skrifar Skoðun Stærsta kjarabót öryrkja í áratugi Ingjibjörg Isaksen skrifar Skoðun Að bjarga þjóð Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson skrifar Skoðun Háskóli Íslands. Opinn og alþjóðlegur? Styrmir Hallsson,Abdullah Arif skrifar Skoðun Nýtt örorkulífeyriskerfi Inga Sæland skrifar Skoðun Það er heldur betur vitlaust gefið á Íslandi Jónas Yngvi Ásgrímsson skrifar Skoðun Að bera harm sinn í hljóði Gunnhildur Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Velferð sem virkar Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Gleðileg ný fiskveiðiáramót …von eða ótti? Arnar Laxdal skrifar Skoðun „Hristir í stoðum“ RÚV? Hermann Stefánsson skrifar Skoðun Opið bréf til innviðaráðherra Eyjólfur Þorkelsson skrifar Skoðun Hin dásamlega sturlun: Umræðan á Íslandi Davíð Bergmann skrifar Skoðun Áhrif, evran, innviðir, öryggi Magnús Árni Skjöld Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Hugleiðing um rauð epli og skynjun veruleikans Gauti Páll Jónsson skrifar Skoðun Tumi þumall og blaðurmaðurinn Kristján Logason skrifar Skoðun Tímamót í velferðarmálum: Nýtt örorkulífeyriskerfi tekur gildi Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson skrifar Skoðun Stefnum á að veita 1000 börnum innblástur fyrir framtíðina Dr. Bryony Mathew skrifar Skoðun Samgönguáætlun – skuldbinding, ekki kosningaloforð skrifar Skoðun Menntun til framtíðar Bryngeir Valdimarsson skrifar Skoðun Við getum öll bjargað lífi Kristófer Kristófersson skrifar Skoðun Finnst ykkur þetta í lagi? Opinn pistill til heilbrigðisráðherra, landlæknis og forystu heilbrigðiskerfisins Steindór Þórarinsson skrifar Skoðun Menntastefna stjórnvalda – ferð án fyrirheits? Sigvaldi Egill Lárusson skrifar Skoðun Fyrir hvern erum við að byggja? Jóhanna Dýrunn Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Beint og milliliðalaust Jón Steindór Valdimarsson skrifar Skoðun Áfengissala: Þrýstingur úr tveimur áttum Ögmundur Jónasson skrifar Skoðun Hver vill heyra um eitthvað jákvætt sem er gert í skólunum? Rakel Linda Kristjánsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Enn af ferðum Angelu Müller. Eru erlendir ferðamenn afætur? BJarnheiður Hallsdóttir skrifar Sjá meira
Magnús Karl Magnússon and I had our first conversation about the University of Iceland as a genuinely inclusive space when I approached him early last year with regard to a project I was doing. Those conversations intensified when he reached out to me a few months ago because of my work in connection with gender equality and decolonizing higher education. I was impressed by his willingness to connect to people working in areas other than his own. As our discussion has progressed, I have seen how integral these concerns are to his vision of the University, its role and its internal organization. The many, extensive, conversations have ranged over a wide array of issues that have focused on the changing demographics of the University of Iceland how the now 15-20% of foreign-origin students, faculty, and administrative and service staff experience HI. Along with colleagues, we have discussed the evolving challenges of the classroom in terms of curricula, pedagogy, and interpersonal dynamics, and thought extensively about how the different origins of students and faculty impact the process of learning that is central to the University. We have looked at the ways in which the University space can be made even more accessible to people with different physical and intellectual needs. In all of these, Magnús has listened attentively, spoken to each issue with knowledge and compassion, taken suggestions seriously, and thought of solutions and innovative approaches to each issue raised. I am convinced that Magnús is deeply serious about the need to improve the University as an inclusive space for everyone. From developing the idea of a committee comprising students, faculty, and administrative staff that would look into the social and ethical aspects of the University’s investments and collaborations and advise the rector on these concerns, to the overhauling of the sexual harassment complaints mechanism so that it is more effective and accessible, to making University websites more accessible for the neuro-divergent, he recognizes that nurturing diversity will make our University stronger in every respect. Magnús has demonstrated a practical knowledge of how the University is run, how it can rise to ever-changing challenges of finances, political situations, and solidarity-building, and what the position of the rector can do to institute systemic, structural, change. He has been thinking about and advocating for the University publicly for decades now, which is amply evident in this kind of careful, practice-based, attention to the University’s running and a genuine investment in its place in society. This investment can be seen in the fact that I was only one among hundreds of students, administrators, and faculty with whom he has had similar conversations over the last many months. Anyone similarly invested will appreciate the value of Magnús as rector. Höfundur er fræðimaður við Háskóla Íslands (Associate Professor at the University of Iceland).
Skoðun Það sem gerist þegar formúlur og fordómar hafa of mikil áhrif Matthildur Björnsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Tímamót í velferðarmálum: Nýtt örorkulífeyriskerfi tekur gildi Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson skrifar
Skoðun Finnst ykkur þetta í lagi? Opinn pistill til heilbrigðisráðherra, landlæknis og forystu heilbrigðiskerfisins Steindór Þórarinsson skrifar
Skoðun Hver vill heyra um eitthvað jákvætt sem er gert í skólunum? Rakel Linda Kristjánsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Enn af ferðum Angelu Müller. Eru erlendir ferðamenn afætur? BJarnheiður Hallsdóttir skrifar