Fréttir | University Centre of the Westfjords

Thesis defense season: spring 2026

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:07:00 +0000

It's thesis defense season again at the University Centre of the Westfjords. The first defense starts on Friday April 24th. During this defense season 6 students will defend their theses in the coming weeks with many interesting topics. The defenses are open to the public and people are also invited to join through zoom. The links can be found in the table below.

UW Student Researches Ocean Literacy

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:43:00 +0000

Una Lilja, a second-year master’s student at the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) in Coastal and Marine Management, is researching how education systems prepare people to make decisions that support a healthy ocean. Her supervisor is Dr Catherine Chambers, UW’s new Director, who began her role on April 1 this year. Her research focuses on ocean literacy, understanding the relationship between people and the ocean, and its role in shaping awareness of environmental issues, sustainability, and the responsible use of marine resources. The concept has gained increasing attention in recent years and is especially relevant in coastal communities, where the ocean is part of everyday life. Una will explore how teachers use the ocean and coastal environments in their teaching, and how ocean literacy is integrated across subjects at all levels of education. She invites teachers to take part in a short survey, which takes around 2–5 minutes to complete and will be open for a limited time. Participants are also encouraged to share the survey with other teachers in their networks. The survey, which is in Icelandic, can be accessed here: Könnun um haflæsi á Íslandi - Háskólasetur Vestfjarða

Project Kickoff: COLAB

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:44:00 +0000

We are excited to launch COLAB: Coastal Laboratories Connecting People and Nature, an international initiative funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Prosperous Future programme. COLAB brings together partners in Iceland, Poland, and Lithuania to co-develop practical methods for empowering coastal communities to build resilient local economies based on coastal natural and bio-based resources. The project focuses on sustainable resource use, community knowledge, and nature-positive practices that strengthen both ecosystems and livelihoods.

Easter opening hours at UW

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:00 +0000

The University Centre of the Westfjords will be closed over part of the Easter holidays. The building will be closed on Good Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4. The entrance from Suðurgata will be locked, and key cards will not be active during that time. In case of emergency, please call 844 3148.

Planning for Climate Change in Coastal Regions at UW

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:28:00 +0000

From 16 March to 1 April, the course Planning for Climate Change in Coastal Regions: Adaptation and Mitigation is taught at the University Centre of the Westfjords, where students take a closer look at one of the most pressing issues facing coastal communities today.

Aquaculture, Environment, and Society course underway at UW

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:40:00 +0000

From 16 March to 1 April, the course Aquaculture, Environment, and Society is taking place at the University Centre of the Westfjords.

Marine Spatial Planning course underway at the University Centre of the Westfjords

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:51:00 +0000

From March 2–13, students at the University Centre of the Westfjords are diving into the world of Marine Spatial Planning — a field that sits right at the meeting point of ocean use, environmental sustainability, and decision-making.

Coping with Disasters, A Course About Resilience, Creativity, and Critical Thinking

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:49:00 +0000

A course exploring how people and societies respond to crisis is now underway at the University Centre of the Westfjords. Running from March 2–13, Coping with Disasters introduces students to the foundations of Disaster Risk Management while encouraging them to think deeply about how disasters take shape and what helps individuals and communities recover when hardship strikes.

Outlook to the Future: Students Explore Coastal Arctic Scenarios

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:22:00 +0000

From February 9–27, the University Centre of the Westfjords holds the course Outlook to the Future: Coastal Arctic Scenarios, an interdisciplinary course that gives students practical tools for thinking ahead and planning for change in Arctic coastal communities.

Students Build Skills in Data Analysis and Interpretation

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

From 9–27 February, the course Data Analysis and Interpretation is underway at UW, giving students the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills in analyzing both quantitative and qualitative research.

Dr. Catherine Chambers participates in an International Exchange Event in Shizuoka on Fisheries and Fish-Eating Culture in Iceland and Japan

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:23:00 +0000

Dr. Catherine Chambers, who will take on the position of Director of the University Centre of the Westfjords on April 1, is currently living in Japan with her family, where she is on research leave as a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo.

Two University Centre of the Westfjords students awarded Byggðastofnun grants for rural development master’s theses

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:40:00 +0000

Since 2015, Byggðastofnun has awarded grants to master’s students working on final thesis projects in the field of rural and regional development, with projects linked to Iceland’s Regional Development Plan considered an advantage.

Course on GIS

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:16:00 +0000

From 19 January to 6 February, the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) offered an intensive Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course, giving students a hands-on introduction to spatial analysis and cartographic tools that are increasingly important in research and practice across disciplines.

Outgoing director elected chair of new “Give Icelandic a Chance” association

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:05:00 +0000

The Gefum íslensku séns (Give Icelandic a Chance) initiative, which began in Ísafjörður, has expanded beyond the region in recent years. To support and coordinate the work, a new association has been founded. Its board includes Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, Eliza Reid, Martína Jansson, Ólafur Guðsteinn Kristjánsson, and Peter Weiss, who was elected chair.

UW students gain practical insight into fisheries science and management

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:40:00 +0000

Dr. James Kennedy, fishery biologist at Iceland’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI), is currently teaching the course Fisheries Management and Technology at UW. The class explores key themes in marine fisheries, including population assessments, fish–habitat associations, life-history, population dynamics, and management.

Sun Day (Sólardagurinn)

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:11:00 +0000

Every year on 25 January, the people of Ísafjörður celebrate Sun Day—a joyful welcome to the sun’s return. The occasion is marked with a traditional sólarkaffi (Sun Day coffee gathering), where people drink coffee and enjoy “sun pancakes” served with sugar, or with jam and whipped cream. For more than a hundred years, Ísafjörður residents have observed this day, which is tied to the moment when the sun first brushes Sólgata (“Sun Street”) again, after a long winter hidden behind the mountains.

Info session for Coastal Studies: Two International Master's Programs

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:49:00 +0000

On Wednesday, February 4th, UW will hold an info session about the two international multidisciplinary masters programs offered at the University Centre of the Westfjords: Coastal Communities and Regional Development and Coastal and Marine Management

The Grimsson Fellowship Program

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:56:00 +0000

One of the projects that the University Centre of the Westfjords participates in is The Grimsson Fellowship residency in Grímshús in Ísafjörður. The project was launched at a conference at UW in November 2022, and in 2023 the first guests arrived at Grímshús.

Course: Applied Methodology

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:48:00 +0000

UW’s is back to its usual self these days after Christmas break and our students have returned to the classrooms.

Opening times at UW during the Holidays

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:01:00 +0000

The halls of the University Centre are now rather quiet, as most of our students have gone home for the holidays and students at Icelandic universities have completed their exams before Christmas.