UNIVERSITY FUNDING

 

The University of Iceland is severly underfunded and that is one of the biggest student interest issues. Röskva demands that politicians be true to their word when it comes to the funding of the university system and that the designated funding will be allocated according to students’ interests. Röskva will resolutely fight for more funding for the University and will exert its full authority to that end in the coming years just as it has previously.

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FAIR REGISTRATION FEES

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Röskva questions the current registration fees and believes them to be disguised school fees that undermine educational equality. The equal access of everyone to education is a fundamental ideal of Röskva. Röskva totally opposes the proposed raising of registration fees and demands their reduction.

 

INSTALLMENT PLAN FOR REGISTRATION FEES

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Röskva wants students to be able to use an instalment plan to pay registration fees. There is precedence for this, this option was for instance available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

REGISTRATION FEES PAYED BY SEMESTER

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Röskva wants students that take competitive exams in the fall semester and can’t continue in the spring semester to pay reduced registration fees. This is in accordance with the fact that people that start their studies in the spring semester do not have to pay a full registration fee.

 

ENTRANCE EXAMS

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Röskva demands the price of entrance exams be minimal. Röskva totally opposes the limiting of participants as a cost-cutting measure. The goal of entrance exams should be to improve the quality of education not to block access to it. Certain factors must also be taken into account such as special educational needs, proficiency in Icelandic and other factors that could affect the results of an entrance exam but not necessarily success in the studies themselves. In view of the fact that entrance exams suit certain faculties better than others Röskva recommends that administrators not take final decisions in these matters except in agreement with the students of the respective faculties.

 

RÖSKVA DEMANDS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PUT THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM A PRIORITY

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Röskva harshly criticizes the current system of the government paying for every student equally, regardless of whether said student studies at a private or a public university. Private universities that collect school fees from their students should not need the same contribution from the government as public universities. Public institutions are distinct from private ones and the government must thus prioritize the operation of publicly run universities.

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CHEAPER TO LIVE AS A STUDENT

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As is customary in the Nordic countries and elsewhere Röskva believes that students should be counted as a low-income group the same way as people with disabilities and senior citizens. Students should have a standard discount on social services such as transportation, healthcare and preschools. Röskva also wants to fight for the raising of the leisure activity grant for the children of students.

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RÖSKVA WANTS TO INTRODUCE A TRAVELING ALLOWANCE

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Röskva wants, in accordance with its ideal of equal access to education, to introduce a traveling allowance/discount for students that practice distance learning. The Icelandic Student Loan Fund’s discontinued travel loan, adjusted for inflation, should be available to students that practice distance learning.

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COMPLEMENTARY ACCESS TO SWIMMING POOLS

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Röskva wants complementary access to swimming pools for students. Guaranteeing complementary access or a hefty discount like for other low-income groups is a big step towards improving the mental and physical health of students.

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CULTURE CARDS FOR STUDENTS

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Röskva wants students to receive a culture card that grants discounts or complementary access to cultural institutions such as art museums and exhibitions. This is similar to European programs that grant for instance free access for students to cultural institutions certain days of the week.

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AFFORDABLE MEANS OF ACQUIRING BOOKS

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Röskva wants to raise awareness of more affordable ways to acquire books, for example e-books and libraries. In the upcoming changes at the University Bookstore Röskva sees an opportunity to introduce book rental and especially e-book rental.

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ICELANDIC STUDENT SERVICES’ TOOL LIBRARY

 

Röskva proposes that the Icelandic Student Services create a tool library where students would have access to various tools and instruments, e.g. for cooking and maintenance free of charge or for a small fee. This is according to Röskva’s exmphasis on sustainability, reduced consumption and a sharing economy.