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 Á hvaða ári er Inga Sæland stödd? Snorri Másson Skoðun Draugagangur í Alaska Hannes Pétursson Skoðun Evrópusambandið eykur varnir gegn netógnum með öflugu regluverki Þórdís Rafnsdóttir Skoðun Ákall til KKÍ og íslensku íþróttahreyfingarinnar Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir,Oddný Björg Rafnsdóttir,Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir,Guðjón Magnússon,Margrét Rut Eddudóttir Skoðun 76 dagar Erlingur Sigvaldason Skoðun Háskólaþorpið Bifröst og fólkið sem gleymdist Margrét Jónsdóttir Njarðvík Skoðun Loftslagsverkfræði: Verkefni sem borgar sig ekki að láta bíða Snjólaug Árnadóttir,Páll Gunnarsson Skoðun Í minningu körfuboltahetja Snæbjörn Guðmundsson Skoðun Körfubolti á tímum þjóðarmorðs Bjarni Þór Sigurbjörnsson Skoðun Ný sókn í menntamálum – tækifæri eða hliðarskref? Ingibjörg Isaksen Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Evrópusambandið eykur varnir gegn netógnum með öflugu regluverki Þórdís Rafnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Von í Vonarskarði Þuríður Helga Kristjánsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Þjóð gegn þjóðarmorði Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson,Guðrún Margrét Guðmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað er eiginlega málið með þessa þéttingu?? Einar Sveinbjörn Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Mikilvægi aðgengis og algildrar hönnunar að byggingum í dag og til framtíðar Þuríður harpa Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Eitt próf á ári – er það snemmtæk íhlutun? Íris E. Gísladóttir skrifar Skoðun Þegar öllu er á botninn hvolft Ingólfur Sverrisson skrifar Skoðun Kynbundin áhrif barneigna á atvinnuþátttöku og tekjur Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar Skoðun Viltu finna milljarð? - Frá gráu svæði í gagnsæi Gunnar Pétur Haraldsson skrifar Skoðun Ný sókn í menntamálum – tækifæri eða hliðarskref? Ingibjörg Isaksen skrifar Skoðun Á hvaða ári er Inga Sæland stödd? Snorri Másson skrifar Skoðun Eru börn innviðir? Hjördís Eva Þórðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Háskólaþorpið Bifröst og fólkið sem gleymdist Margrét Jónsdóttir Njarðvík skrifar Skoðun Körfubolti á tímum þjóðarmorðs Bjarni Þór Sigurbjörnsson skrifar Skoðun Draugagangur í Alaska Hannes Pétursson skrifar Skoðun Loftslagsverkfræði: Verkefni sem borgar sig ekki að láta bíða Snjólaug Árnadóttir,Páll Gunnarsson skrifar Skoðun Hoppað í drullipolli við hliðina á Snorra Mássyni. Um allskonar fólk, líka í Miðflokknum Ægir Lúðvíksson skrifar Skoðun 76 dagar Erlingur Sigvaldason skrifar Skoðun Í minningu körfuboltahetja Snæbjörn Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Er kominn tími til að láta endurmeta brunabótamatið á þínu húsnæði? Heiðrún Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Húsnæðisbæturnar sem hurfu Ragnar Sigurður Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Ákall til KKÍ og íslensku íþróttahreyfingarinnar Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir,Oddný Björg Rafnsdóttir,Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir,Guðjón Magnússon,Margrét Rut Eddudóttir skrifar Skoðun Hjartans mál í kennslu Sigurður Árni Reynisson skrifar Skoðun Hunsuðu menntamálin – en ætla nú að bjarga þeim Sigurður Kári Harðarson skrifar Skoðun Sporin þín Valtýr Soffía Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Að saga rótina undan trénu og halda að stofninn vaxi hraðar: hugleiðing um tillögur Viðskiptaráðs Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson skrifar Skoðun Mikilvægi aðgengis og algildrar hönnunar að byggingum í dag og til framtíðar Þuríður Harpa Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Sjallar og lyklaborðið Sigfús Ómar Höskuldsson skrifar Skoðun Fimm af tíu veitingastöðum hættu með hvalkjöt Valgerður Árnadóttir,Stefán Yngvi Pétursson,Rósa Líf Darradóttir,Anahita S. Babaei skrifar Skoðun „Stóra fallega frumvarpið“ hans Trump Gunnar Alexander Ólafsson 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).
Ákall til KKÍ og íslensku íþróttahreyfingarinnar Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir,Oddný Björg Rafnsdóttir,Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir,Guðjón Magnússon,Margrét Rut Eddudóttir Skoðun
Loftslagsverkfræði: Verkefni sem borgar sig ekki að láta bíða Snjólaug Árnadóttir,Páll Gunnarsson Skoðun
Skoðun Mikilvægi aðgengis og algildrar hönnunar að byggingum í dag og til framtíðar Þuríður harpa Sigurðardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Kynbundin áhrif barneigna á atvinnuþátttöku og tekjur Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar
Skoðun Loftslagsverkfræði: Verkefni sem borgar sig ekki að láta bíða Snjólaug Árnadóttir,Páll Gunnarsson skrifar
Skoðun Hoppað í drullipolli við hliðina á Snorra Mássyni. Um allskonar fólk, líka í Miðflokknum Ægir Lúðvíksson skrifar
Skoðun Er kominn tími til að láta endurmeta brunabótamatið á þínu húsnæði? Heiðrún Jónsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Ákall til KKÍ og íslensku íþróttahreyfingarinnar Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir,Oddný Björg Rafnsdóttir,Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir,Guðjón Magnússon,Margrét Rut Eddudóttir skrifar
Skoðun Að saga rótina undan trénu og halda að stofninn vaxi hraðar: hugleiðing um tillögur Viðskiptaráðs Birgir Orri Ásgrímsson skrifar
Skoðun Mikilvægi aðgengis og algildrar hönnunar að byggingum í dag og til framtíðar Þuríður Harpa Sigurðardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Fimm af tíu veitingastöðum hættu með hvalkjöt Valgerður Árnadóttir,Stefán Yngvi Pétursson,Rósa Líf Darradóttir,Anahita S. Babaei skrifar
Ákall til KKÍ og íslensku íþróttahreyfingarinnar Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir,Oddný Björg Rafnsdóttir,Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir,Guðjón Magnússon,Margrét Rut Eddudóttir Skoðun
Loftslagsverkfræði: Verkefni sem borgar sig ekki að láta bíða Snjólaug Árnadóttir,Páll Gunnarsson Skoðun