March 9, 2025
Arnar Pálsson, biologist, writes:
The election for the rector of the University of Iceland is just around the corner. Five outstanding Icelanders and two foreign candidates are in the running. Most of the issues and emphases have been heard about by the Icelanders, and it is clear that they are all capable and energetic. All of them could perform the job of rector of the University of Iceland with integrity and conscientiousness. But in elections, a choice must be made, and I choose Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir.
The next rector faces a variety of challenges to strengthen the University of Iceland as an educational and research institution for Icelandic society and business. This includes both seeking increased funding and strengthening the university's internal work. The most important challenge is that Icelandic universities are underfunded compared to the OECD and the Nordic countries - which we would like to emulate. It has been the state's policy for some time to finance universities like the Nordic countries, but we have moved away from that goal in the last 5 years. The starvation policy has the effect that the range of courses offered is reduced, courses are taught cheaply (fewer hours, fewer projects or less contact with society or nature) and university teachers' salaries have decreased (relatively compared to comparable groups). This is a negative development that has already led to a deterioration in the quality of the studies, and is causing, among other things, experts not to apply for work at the University of Iceland or to turn down positions due to low salaries. The only way to solve the problem is to increase public and political awareness of the role and importance of universities for Icelandic society, both in education and research. Long-term underfunding of Icelandic universities leads to poorer education that undermines prosperity, productivity and limits the progress of our society for decades to come. Issues within the University of Iceland also need to be addressed. There are a number of systemic problems there, which may be difficult for laypeople to dismiss out of anger. In short, the financial division model creates inequality between the university's units, as does the difference in funding for research institutes (some are well supported and others poorly, even if they are theoretically similar), and also the inverse performance appraisal system rewards teachers who conduct certain types of research and punishes others. Simple metrics are relied on, both in the distribution of funds within the university and to it (the new model of the ministry). But counting published research papers is a flawed metric. Since the turn of the century, the University of Iceland has transformed into a real research university, but the growth has not been without pain. While the number of students has doubled since the turn of the century, the number of permanent teachers has only increased by a third. Various other shortcomings could be included, such as the environment for foreign students and teachers, as well as the facilities for undergraduate students and student associations.
Universities are important for training the next generations, and venues for basic research and open discussion on issues that are of burning concern to the people and humanity as a whole. These include climate and environmental threats that can lead to the collapse of human civilization, but also issues of minority groups, the integration of nations and cultures, and recent upheavals in international affairs. Silja Bára discusses the external conditions of universities and internal issues, as well as her ideas for improvement, on the website www.siljabara.is. She possesses many qualities that I consider suitable in a rector of the University of Iceland. She is clear, balanced and logical, both in the classroom, in one-on-one conversations and in television interviews. Her experience in the public arena, as well as working on policy and negotiations, is particularly important. Her values are important to me, because she puts the community of students and teachers at the forefront. She is well aware of the injustices faced by marginalized groups and the struggle for equality in a broad sense (e.g. groups that are discriminated against on the basis of gender, sexuality and origin). Silja's experience is broad, for example she has been a part-time teacher at the University of Iceland, chairman of the Icelandic Red Cross and a representative on the University Council. On the University Council level she protested against the abolition of the Charter Fund, which is yet another example of how underfunding has hampered the university's operations. The rector needs to be able to speak clearly and with conviction, uniting different groups with the basic values of the knowledge society as a guiding light. Universities should be an open forum for conversation and exchange of views, a fertile and free environment where problems are analyzed, assessed and solutions developed. The myth of the strong leader does not apply to universities. I believe it is more important that the University of Iceland has a clear, intelligent and well-rounded person in the position of rector who can serve the community of university students, teachers and other employees. Silja Bára is such a person and as rector she can strengthen both the University of Iceland and Icelandic society.
