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 Pólitískt hugrekki og pólitískt hugleysi: ólík stefna tveggja systurflokka Birgir Finnsson Skoðun Sættir þú þig við þetta? Jón Pétur Zimsen Skoðun Sniðgangan á Rapyd slær öll met Björn B. Björnsson Skoðun Augnablikið Magnús Jóhann Hjartarson Skoðun Alþingi gleymir aftur fötluðum börnum Lúðvík Júlíusson Skoðun Tölum um stóra valdaframsalsmálið Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson Skoðun Listnám er lífsbjörg – opið bréf til ráðherra mennta, félags og heilbrigðismála, til stuðnings Söngskóla Sigurðar Demetz Dagbjört Andrésdóttir Skoðun Það þarf ekki að biðjast afsökunar á því að segja satt Þórður Snær Júlíusson Skoðun Gott frumvarp, en hvað með verklagið? Bogi Ragnarsson Skoðun Litla landið sem kennir heiminum – Ísland og þróunarsamvinna í gegnum menntun GRÓ skólanna Verena Karlsdóttir,Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson,Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Virði barna og ungmenna Álfhildur Leifsdóttir,Hólmfríður Jennýjar Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Sættir þú þig við þetta? Jón Pétur Zimsen skrifar Skoðun Alþingi gleymir aftur fötluðum börnum Lúðvík Júlíusson skrifar Skoðun Lægri gjöld, fleiri tækifæri Bragi Bjarnason skrifar Skoðun Tölum um stóra valdaframsalsmálið Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Litla landið sem kennir heiminum – Ísland og þróunarsamvinna í gegnum menntun GRÓ skólanna Verena Karlsdóttir,Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson,Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson skrifar Skoðun Öflugar varnir krefjast stöndugra fréttamiðla Sigríður Dögg Auðunsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Gott frumvarp, en hvað með verklagið? Bogi Ragnarsson skrifar Skoðun Augnablikið Magnús Jóhann Hjartarson skrifar Skoðun Listnám er lífsbjörg – opið bréf til ráðherra mennta, félags og heilbrigðismála, til stuðnings Söngskóla Sigurðar Demetz Dagbjört Andrésdóttir skrifar Skoðun Það þarf ekki að biðjast afsökunar á því að segja satt Þórður Snær Júlíusson skrifar Skoðun Lífeyrissjóðirnir og Íslandsbanki, hluthafafundur á mánudag Bolli Héðinsson skrifar Skoðun „Þegar arkitektinn fer á flug“ - opinber umræða á villigötum Eyrún Arnarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Heilbrigðiskerfið þarf stjórnvöld með bein í nefinu Svandís Svavarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Börn eru hvorki veiðigjöld né öryggis- og varnarmál Grímur Atlason skrifar Skoðun Í vörn gegn sjálfum sér? Ólafur Stephensen skrifar Skoðun Mig langar að byggja heim með frið og umlykja með ást Guðmunda G. Guðmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Þjóðin stendur með sjúkraliðum Sandra B. Franks skrifar Skoðun Vegið að íslenska lífeyriskerfinu Björgvin Jón Bjarnason,Þóra Eggertsdóttir,Halldór Kristinsson,Guðmundur Svavarsson,Elsa Björk Pétursdóttir,Jón Ólafur Halldórsson,Arnar Hjaltalín skrifar Skoðun Ísland gjaldþrota vegna fatlaðs fólks? Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Veiðigjöld, gaslýsingar og valdníðsla Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Sniðgangan á Rapyd slær öll met Björn B. Björnsson skrifar Skoðun Pólitískt hugrekki og pólitískt hugleysi: ólík stefna tveggja systurflokka Birgir Finnsson skrifar Skoðun Árið 2023 kemur aldrei aftur Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Trumpistar eru víða Trausti Breiðfjörð Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Fasteignagjöld eru lág í Reykjavík Sara Björg Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Gerræðisleg áform í anda Ráðstjórnarríkjanna Guðmundur Fertram Sigurjónsson skrifar Skoðun Opið svar til formanns Samleik- Útsvarsgreiðendur borga leikskólann í Kópavogi! Rakel Ýr Isaksen skrifar Skoðun Nýbakaðir foreldrar og óbökuð loforð Ingveldur Anna Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Þegar bráðamóttakan drepur þig hraðar Hólmfríður Ásta Hjaltadóttir 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).
Listnám er lífsbjörg – opið bréf til ráðherra mennta, félags og heilbrigðismála, til stuðnings Söngskóla Sigurðar Demetz Dagbjört Andrésdóttir Skoðun
Litla landið sem kennir heiminum – Ísland og þróunarsamvinna í gegnum menntun GRÓ skólanna Verena Karlsdóttir,Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson,Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson Skoðun
Skoðun Litla landið sem kennir heiminum – Ísland og þróunarsamvinna í gegnum menntun GRÓ skólanna Verena Karlsdóttir,Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson,Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson skrifar
Skoðun Listnám er lífsbjörg – opið bréf til ráðherra mennta, félags og heilbrigðismála, til stuðnings Söngskóla Sigurðar Demetz Dagbjört Andrésdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Vegið að íslenska lífeyriskerfinu Björgvin Jón Bjarnason,Þóra Eggertsdóttir,Halldór Kristinsson,Guðmundur Svavarsson,Elsa Björk Pétursdóttir,Jón Ólafur Halldórsson,Arnar Hjaltalín skrifar
Skoðun Pólitískt hugrekki og pólitískt hugleysi: ólík stefna tveggja systurflokka Birgir Finnsson skrifar
Skoðun Opið svar til formanns Samleik- Útsvarsgreiðendur borga leikskólann í Kópavogi! Rakel Ýr Isaksen skrifar
Listnám er lífsbjörg – opið bréf til ráðherra mennta, félags og heilbrigðismála, til stuðnings Söngskóla Sigurðar Demetz Dagbjört Andrésdóttir Skoðun
Litla landið sem kennir heiminum – Ísland og þróunarsamvinna í gegnum menntun GRÓ skólanna Verena Karlsdóttir,Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson,Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson Skoðun