INTERNATIONAL OFFICER OF SHÍ

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Foreign students at the University of Iceland form a diverse group, but only a quarter of them are exchange students. On the other hand, the University of Iceland offers support almost exclusively to undergraduate and exchange students, and most information and support available is directed towards them, and as a consequence, a large group of foreign students lacks guidance and assistance. Röskva wants to change this. Röskva welcomes the addition of the role of International Officer to Student Rights Office.

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS

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Student exchanges are an important way to widen the horizon for students. Röskva wants all students in all departments to have the option to go out on a student exchange. Röskva encourages the University to further improve their advertisement for the opportunities for student exchanges and encourage every student to go out on an exchange, regardless of position in life, e.g. families with children. For example, it is possible to increase assistance by offering higher grants.

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INCREASED RELATIONS WITH UNIVERSITIES ABROAD

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Röskva believes that studying abroad can play an important role in a student’s academic career and encourages the University to strengthen its relations to schools abroad; both with teacher and student exchange. Röskva wants to raise awareness to this matter, as this especially applies to all graduate studies at the University of Iceland. Röskva wants continued cooperation between the Student Council of Aurora and SHÍ with the aim to improve service to students and promote the operation of SHÍ.

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PARTICIPATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN RÖSKVA

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An International Officer operates on the behalf of Röskva who leads their International Committee, along with acting as a spokesperson for international students to ensure their needs are met and to voice their concerns. International students are especially encouraged and supported to fulfill the role of International Officer of Röskva. In recent years, an International Officer has operated within Röskva and is therefore an important platform for international students to utilise in order to have their voices heard.

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PUBLISHED MATERIAL

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Röskva wants to be accessible and in order to promote the participation of international students, it is necessary to have information available in English.

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CULTURE

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Röskva aims to address the interest of international students in Icelandic culture and considers one way to promote Icelandic culture to be to host events for international students. These events should be as diverse as possible and, in particular, shall try to include international students in the issues and affairs of the University.

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EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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Röskva aims to incorporate the fact that some students are here for one semester only and others for longer periods. This includes, i.a. to try to engage international students who are here for more than one semester only and encourage them to take a more active role in the social life of the school, e.g., urge them to run for offices and committees or organise student events.

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ICELANDIC COURSES FREE OF CHARGE 

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Röskva demands that international students receive access to elective Icelandic courses, free of charge. Language difficulties can be the biggest social barriers which international students face, and make it more difficult to partake in academic and social life. Therefore, Röskva encourages the University of Iceland to offer introductory Icelandic courses, free of charge, for international students each semester.  Röskva celebrates the fact that Icelandic as a second language is available, but wants to see the possibility to also attend smaller courses to give international students an option to improve their Icelandic.

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SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ SOCIAL LIFE

 

The University of Iceland should prepare a framework to better support the social life amongst international students. Röskva considers a healthy social life to be one of the central premises of wellbeing in an academic environment. International students often end up left out of the social life within the University. Guidance counsellors should be able to provide international students with the information about social life and events by the school, as should the International Officer and the International Committee of SHÍ. Additionally, the University should guarantee that international students have sufficient access to the school’s social life in order to integrate into the University community.

 

TRANSPARENT APPLICATION PROCESS

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International students should have access to a transparent application process. All relevant data and formalities should be accessible and present in English. The University should make accessing necessary information, regarding themselves, easily available, before and during their stay.

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SERVICE AND INFORMATION IN ENGLISH

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The University of Iceland should offer all services to students in English, just as they do in Icelandic. As of now, this is extremely lacking when it comes to the home page, as little material is available in English. It is especially vital that all documents pertaining to the application process are accessible in English.

 

ACCESS TO HOUSING

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Röskva demands that the University of Iceland ensures students easy access to housing during their stay.  International students lack the network and the safety net of Icelandic students. It makes the search for housing more difficult. Therefore, the University should provide increased support when it comes to housing issues. The housing market in Iceland is tough and international students are not used to it and unprepared in many instances. The University should be able to meet their needs.

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ACCESS TO JOB MARKET

 

The University of Iceland should provide international students with information about the job market in Iceland, e.g., by offering information about whether and how much they are allowed to work, where jobs are advertised for applications and direct them to the appropriate third party, such as unions.

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INCREASED COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

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Röskva believes that studying abroad can play an important part in the studies of students and encourages the University to increase cooperation with international universities; regarding both teacher and student exchange. Röskva points out that this is especially relevant in all postgraduate studies at the University of Iceland. Röskva wants a continuing cooperation between the Aurora Student Council and SHÍ, with the goal to improve service to students and enhance SHÍ’s work. Röskva encourages the University to get better acquainted with Aurora’s operation in regard to students, and the opportunities the cooperation offers.

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THE RIGHTS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN COURSE ASSESSMENT

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Röskva demands that international students, and other students struggling with academic Icelandic can apply for an extended exam- time, exam questions in English and the use of a dictionary in final exams. Röskva alsa demands that student can receive and turn in assignments in English.

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MEASURES TO INCREASE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION OF PEOPLE OF FOREIGN ORIGIN

 

Röskva wants the University of Iceland to show social responsibility and make it easier for people of foreign origin to access the University community. Projects such as Sprettur shall be a priority at the University of Iceland which Röskva will contribute to. This could be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Industry and Innovation by e.g. work on the preparation and presentation of university studies with regard to their position in the education system in Iceland.