It clearly says in the equality and human rights policy of Menntaskólinn við Sund that no student should be discriminated against because of who they are, and people who belong to minorities should be equal and have equal opportunities within the school.

University students receive queer education

Extremely important since issues relating to queer matters within Icelandic universities need to be improved, says head of Queer Student Association.

Heiðrún Fivelstad, activist and head of education at Q, wants students to be aware of queer matters. Q – Queer Student Association is an interest group within the university community. The Association organises social activities and works towards equal rights for LGBTQIA+ students as well as trying to make sure that diversity within the university community is respected.

Q – Queer Student Association together with Samtökin ’78, the National Queer Organization, have started inviting students at the University of Iceland to go on educational field trips to the headquarters of Samtökin ’78 on Suðurgata 3 in Reykjavík. There they get a chance to learn from their fellow students about queer matters in a safe and relaxed environment.
Heiðrún Fivelstad, activist and head of education at Q, wants students to be aware of queer matters, not just so queer people can feel safe and accepted within university spaces, but also acknowledged on every level within the different fields of the universities.
„We think of the field trips as a chance to educate students about what it means to be queer, all the diverse groups that belong under the queer umbrella, what the difference between gender identity, sexual orientation, sex characteristics and gender expression are (to really mess with their heads), and how they can offer a helping hand within the universities themselves,“ says Heiðrún when asked about their main focus.
„ We try to tailor every field trip to the academic field of the students so they get a chance to connect to it both on a personal and on an academic level. Within this space, where the students are surrounded by their peers and friends, they get a chance to learn, ask questions and discuss in a relaxed atmosphere,“ she adds.

„Queer people and matters are hardly ever mentioned in classrooms, in textbooks, in research or in projects and there is still a lot of discourse that excludes us. Most of the time, it’s like we don’t exist “

Asked how it came about that Q started organizing these field trips, Heiðrún says that Samtökin ’78 have offered field trips for university students before, but this semester Q decided to put more focus on education within the universities and take over the field trips for the most part. „We want to be an active voice within the universities and press for matters that we feel are important, and field trips are a great way to do so,“ she says. „When I took over as head of education at Q, I wanted to focus my attention fully on the field trips, as I am extremely passionate about increasing the dialogue on queer matters within the universities.“

Have you been surprised while working on this project?
„I am not sure what ideas I had in mind before starting, but I must say the field trips have been a great pleasure. I think the thing I least expected is the enthusiasm of university students to learn more about these matters, especially within a space that’s relaxed and understanding,“ she explains. „I have been a volunteer for ‘Jafningjafræðarar’, an educational program offered for elementary schools at Samtökin ’78, and I didn’t realise that my peers did not get the same education that Samtökin ’78 offers now. I of course knew that was the case, but I never actually thought of it,“ Heiðrún acknowledges. „I think oftentimes university students are getting this education for the first time, and to be able to offer that is really rewarding.”

How have the students reacted? Are they generally aware of queer matters?
„The reaction has been really wonderful, and I hope equally as nice for them. The discussions that follow the lectures have been really interesting and I feel that students come with a very open mind. Sometimes people open up about situations or matters that they have been wondering about, but not gotten the chance to discuss in a similar space, which is always nice,“ says Heiðrún. „I think people’s awareness varies from person to person, but the general atmosphere is that they’re willing to listen and learn. I learn equally as much from the field trips, as every discipline has a different approach to the matters we discuss, and I didn’t realize queer issues could be applied to literally every discipline before I started the field trips; there are a thousand different ways to view and discuss the subject.“

At Samtökin ’78 headquarters on Suðurgata 3 in Reykjavík students get a chance to learn from their fellow students about queer matters in a safe and relaxed environment.

Why is it important in your opinion that the students at the university are aware of queer matters?
„It is extremely important because there is still so much that needs to be improved within the universities regarding queer matters. Queer people and matters still go unnoticed within most fields at the universities, both on a social and systematic level,“ Heiðrún explains. „Queer people and matters are hardly ever mentioned in classrooms, in textbooks, in research or in projects and there is still a lot of discourse that excludes us. Most of the time, it’s like we don’t exist,“ she proclaims.

„I want students to be aware of queer matters, not just so queer people can feel safe and accepted within university spaces, but also acknowledged on every level. We need all hands on deck in order for this to be improved.“

„I want students to be aware of queer matters, not just so queer people can feel safe and accepted within university spaces, but also acknowledged on every level. We need all hands on deck in order for this to be improved.“

Does the university help you out with this project? Are you getting any grants or is it all voluntary work?
„Up until now it’s been all voluntary work for myself and the secretary of Q, Embla Orradóttir Dofradóttir, but we are hoping to get grants for the next semester. Samtökin ’78 have been wonderful with helping us out as well,“ Heiðrún says with a lot of gratitude.

The University of Iceland.

The Queer Student Association has been very active in the past year with a lot of exciting new projects. Are you changing direction? Where does this new drive come from?
„We decided to focus our attention more locally and put more emphasis on hosting fewer and better events,“ Heiðrún explains. „We want university students to know about us and queer students to join us at events, as well as educate as many people as we can. We want to become a stronger voice within university spaces to raise awareness of queer matters,“ she says. „And we’re just getting started,“ she adds.

Apart from the educating, do you have any other events coming up?
„We schedule events twice every month for queer university students to get to know each other. The events vary from time to time and anyone is more than welcome to join. Events are advertised on our Facebook page. Everybody is welcome, no matter where under the rainbow!“

How can interested university students join the association?
„Like us on Facebook, Q – Félag hinsegin stúdenta // Q – Queer Student Association and meet us at our next event! You can also shoot us a message if you have any questions,“ says Heiðrún and adds that there are events organized by Q coming up, including an event dedicated to sex education on March 16th.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

—————-

Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.