Business matters

Increased cooperation between the University of Iceland and the business world

Most enter the labor market after graduation and want to work in a field where their education is useful. In order to make it easier for students to find their way after graduation, it is important that they have the opportunity to get to know the possibilities that are available during their studies. Vaka believes that the University of Iceland is not on an equal footing with other universities in Iceland in terms of relationships with the business world and wants to see that improved. In the working year 2019 to 2020, Vaka vinnui started to promote Atvinndag, as well as setting up an event where students can get to know people from the business world in an easy way. That work is still in full swing.

Connection square

On the initiative of Vakuliði, an employment agency (www.tengslatorg.hi.is) was set up for students, which is now under the supervision of study and career counselling. Vaka had long fought for such an exchange where students can conveniently find jobs that suit them, whether it's during the summer or in parallel with their studies. Vaka will continue to draw attention to the site and contribute to increased student access to the working world.

Promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the University of Iceland

The University of Iceland has an important role to play in society as a source of knowledge, progress and new ideas. Vaka wants to promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the University of Iceland and provide students with a springboard to implement their ideas. Vaka proposes to review teaching methods to encourage the promotion of innovation and by offering courses in social entrepreneurship that are not only for master's students.

Draw more attention to apprenticeships

Internships are not sufficiently visible and accessible to students within the school. Over the years, Vaka has fought for this and we want even more supply and cooperation with the business world.

Internship for credits

One of Vaka's main goals is to bridge the gap between study and working life. Vaka fights for increased opportunities for optional internships, which are either paid with money or credits. We are absolutely wary of offering internships without anything replacing the time a student spends on behalf of an employer. The company's long-term policy is that all internships will be paid. Vaka requires departments to be more efficient in communicating job opportunities and there are events organized by departments where companies that want to hire people from within the departments come and introduce the jobs that are available.

An interdisciplinary elective for all fields to work together

Vaka wants to increase the connection with the business world. With increased cooperation between study programs, it would be possible to combine people's energies and create great opportunities. At the University of Reykjavík, there is a phase that we are considering regarding this proposal. We want there to be a phase, compulsory or optional, where groups of people from different study programs would be formed who should organize projects, programs or other things for schools, institutions or companies that are suitable for each occasion. Entrepreneurship would take place there, where people could let their light shine.