1. Organization and activities of university counseling centers in Iceland Prague, November 11th, 2008 Gudbjörg Vilhjálmsdóttir, Ph.D. associate professor, University of Iceland gudvil@hi.is

2. Iceland – The warm country of the north

3. Land of ice................. and fire

4. 4 Reykjavik – the capital

5. City of smoky bay A village of 5000 inhabitants in 1908 Today we count 200.000 University of Iceland (13.000) University of Reykjavik (3.000) Arts college (400)

6. Young city Intense cultural life and entertainment

7. University of Iceland – founded in 1911

8. Newest building – university square

9. Student life demands hard work

10. ...........and technology

11. University of Iceland Student Counseling & Career Center Past: – 1981: First counsellor 0,5 position: initiative from the University of Minnesota, USA Present: – 2008: 6 positions (13.000 students) – (and 2 counsellors from the University college of education: an independent unit)

12. Counsellors at other colleges/universities Other universities in Iceland – Eight positions in five other colleges (5.500 students) – Higher education counselors are often leaders in collaborate counseling projects, such as on drop-outs, dyslexics, etc.

13. New offices at the University Square

14. Counseling staff USCCC serves under the Division of Academic Affairs. USCC is headed by its director and along with six educational & vocational guidance counselors and one psychologist offers extensive services to students, The University college of Education was recently merged to the University of Iceland (2 counsellors).

15. Meeting rooms for workshops

16. Good working conditions

17. Staff in disability services USCCC staff also includes an office manager who executes the disability services and a receptionist. A sign language interpreter has an office at USCCC and works as a part of the disability services offered within the University of Iceland.

18. Services with a smile!

19. Goals of the counseling services at the University Assist, encourage and support the university student in seeking opportunities and realizing goals that will enhance his/her personal, academic and professional life in a life long learning context.

20. Mission 1.Provide career counseling & academic counseling to students thus promoting personal academic and career growth. 2.Provide supervised training and practicum for masters students in the University of Iceland masters program in school & career counseling. 3.Actively participate in outreach programs, national & international projects thus strengthening the professional foundation of USCCC.

21. Academic and career counseling Academic planning Academic choice Interest inventories Group workshops Graduation preparation (resumé writing, portfolio) Career planning / skills Workshop One on one Disability services

22. Study support: learning and information management Learning and academic skills and Information management Skill development workshops: Reading techniques Note taking strategies Listening strategies Test taking strategies Goal achievement and motivation etc. I Workshops about thesis work

23. Personal counseling Personal wellness Adjustment issues Problem solving Personal goals Motivational interviewing Self esteem workshops

24. Training Provide supervised training and practicum for masters students in the University of Iceland masters program in school & career counseling. – USCCC provides initial training and practicum for master students

25. Training: Practicum course, 1st step Teachers are counselors at USCCC All counselor training studens starts with three day orientation in end of August Training modules: Initial training – first week, 16 hours: interview shadowing for academic choice. Getting acquainted to the center Continued training - second week – Active participation in interviews, stressing interviewing skills and problem solving

26. Counsellor education programme @University of Iceland Post graduate diploma in school counselling and guidance established in 1990 – one year (60 ECTS) MA programme in 2004 – a second year (60 ECTS) Prerequisite B.A. degree in social sciences or B.Ed degree or B.A./B.S. degree in other fields + teacher´s certificate (1 yr programme).

27. Counsellor education programme @University of Iceland Counselling programme is situated in the Faculty of Social Sciences. 1st year: 8 courses – 5,5 weeks of internship

28. Graduation and staff Student enrollment – 30 per year. 240 students have graduated since 1991. 40 have graduated with a MA diploma Two full faculty position and 7 part time teachers Networking Visiting professors from abroad

29. Counsellor education at a distance Recognised need in rural and coastal areas Different teaching methods Nearly 40 students have graduated via distance education

30. Outreach Actively participate in outreach programs, national & international projects thus strengthening the professional foundation of USCCC. Within University: Study skills for different faculties, interviewing techniques, career development Outside University: Professional development, Leonardo projects on drop-out and dyslexia. Nordic co- operation in disability services and career counseling, foreign study visits.

31. Quality USCCC makes constant efforts and plans to maintain and ensure quality of guidance and counseling. USCCC professionals monitor innovations in the counseling field by participating in educational opportunities, workshops and conferences.

32. Future projects Career Center with emphasis on job search services Freshman orientation Disability Center – a new innovative center with modern technology aiding disabled students in their studies.

33. Disability services at the University of Iceland University of Iceland Policy USCC executive position Equal educational opportunity Access Center Technology support

34. The support system University resolution Regulations regarding assistance The Student Counselling Center Number of students receiving assistance

35. The University resolution It concerns services for the disabled. It is the foundation on which all such services are built upon at the University. According to this resolution the University of Iceland shall: – Assist students with disabilities. – Seek to provide assistance in accordance with their needs. – Provide students with equal opportunities.

36. Regulations regarding assistance : Include disabilities such as: mental health problems physical disabilities affecting vision, hearing or mobility, specific learning disabilities chronic illnesses Require diagnosis from a doctor or a specialist Assistance to the disabled shall not include reduction in normal demands for academic achievement.

37. Services at USCCC The Counseling Center supervises and is responsible for all services for students with disabilities. Counselors: analyse and assess students needs for special assistance provide personal support sessions provide psychological support offer workshops on examination anxiety

38. The Student Counseling and Career Center supervises all special assistance and resources for disabled students keeps the bilateral agreements informs relevant academic units about the students needs. is responsible for the access center and trains students of using special software and equipments. registers informations about disabled students in a special data base holds two posts in the Council of student disability affairs

39. Acess centre Provides enabling technology customized to disabled students and students with dyslexia.

40. Examples of the assistance that is provided Accessible classrooms Auditory system for deaf students Assistance with note-taking A sign-language interpreter Scanning textbooks on CD´s Read Please Software Recording of teaching sessions Work space and computer room Study skills support / workshops Test anxiety counseling / workshops Psychological counseling Longer time to take each test Assistance to write down test answers Tests with text enlargement Tests on colored paper Tests taken on computers

41. Disabled students at UI that have received special assistance (‘95 – ’05)

42. Disabled students at UI that have received special assistance (‘95 – ’07)

43. Number of students with different disabilities for the academic year 2004-2005

44. Student services at Reykjavik University Increasing the ability and ambition of students in regard to studies and work. Strengthening students as academics and specialists in order to maximise their talents. Enhancing the self-confidence and self- knowledge of students.

45. Study circles – A study circle is a group consisting of a few students who wish to improve in their studies. A student counselor oversees the group in sessions where important factors concerning students’ studies are covered, for example, their work methods and organization. Experienced students also share their experience and point out what students should pay most attention to in courses.

46. Thank you for listening! gudvil@hi.is