Student Council's President Address

There’s a lot of stress involved with being a university student. Most of us are always in a hurry, we have to be someplace, finish something up, turn something in and get ready for the next round, and the round after that. Non-stop studying and reading, group projects, essay writing and final exams. On top of this, most of us work alongside our studies – in fact, Icelandic students work more than any other European students. Aside from that, there’s the rest, that which what makes us human - being there for our families, meeting friends, having hobbies, socializing and exercising. Our daily hustle

and bustle tends to be all-consuming to the point where "mindfulness" goes a little too far - there’s no time to think about what will happen next or what the future actually holds.

During my term as president of the Student Council, I’ve thought about the future quite a bit, as our fight for student rights concerns future students as well as those enrolled in university right now. This issue of the Student Paper navigates the topic of Future, and I dream of a day when the average student is less busy than what I’ve described above. I hope to see the day when students have more time to focus on their studies, as higher education is a full time job on its own. The day when students can rest during the evenings and weekends, spend time with friends and family and pursue their hobbies. This isn’t a far-fetched dream in the slightest considering the fact that other Nordic countries have already achieved this goal. In order for us to get there, however, we need our government to take action - and the time to do so is right now.

We’re at a turning point regarding the future of students, higher education and society as a whole. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is currently reviewing the laws of the Icelandic Student Loan Fund, and the Student Council of the University of Iceland as well as the

National Union of Icelandic Students have made their demands clear when it comes to improving the Icelandic student loan system. The fact of the matter is that the Fund’s renewed laws (established in 2020) have failed to provide an adequate support system for students in Iceland. While intended to ensure equal access to education, the current system isn’t enough to make ends meet and has resulted in students’ need to work alongside their student loans - which, in turn, reduces the amount allocated to students and creates a vicious cycle of work and student loans. Moreover, the current interest rate is too high, and the requirements for receiving a 30% reduction of student loans need to be amended in order for the reduction to serve those who truly need it the most.

This is only a fraction of the Loan Fund’s flaws, and it is essential that its review ensures improvements for future students compared to students today. The current economic situation makes students’ struggles more complicated - and more important than ever. In times like these, the danger of students being left behind increases, as well as the need to safeguard student interests and our equal rights to education. I look forward to watching new people take the reins in the Student Council and continue this important fight - for today's students as well as the students of the future.

—Rebekka Karlsdóttir (she/her) Student Council president 2022 – 2023