University Centre of the Westfjords Staff and Students Engage in High-Level Policy Discussions at Arctic Circle Assembly
In mid-October, a delegation from the University Centre of the Westfjords attended the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland. The group included 12 students from Dr. Romain Chuffart’s course on Arctic Ocean Governance, alongside four staff members: Dr. Brack Hale, Morgan Greene, Dr. Peter Weiss, and Dr. Catherine Chambers. Students from the School for International Training (SIT) undergraduate and graduate programs in Iceland also attended, representing the University Centre, led by Dr. Jill Welter, Dr. Christine Palmer, and Sadie Ainsworth.
Dr. Catherine Chambers, Research Director of UW, was featured in a session on Thursday, October 16th entitled "Can We Do Better? Skills For the Next Generation of Arctic Governance Experts.” This panel discussion was organized by several academic and policy institutions to address necessary expertise for future Arctic governance.
The Arctic Circle Assembly, held from October 16-18, is a significant international forum. This year, it brought together 2,000 participants from 70 countries, featuring 250 sessions with 700 speakers. Among the participants were government ministers, leaders of research institutions, representatives of climate organizations, and Indigenous communities of the Arctic.
An Integral Component of Arctic Governance Studies
Participation in the Assembly is an integral part of the Arctic Ocean Governance course, providing students with a unique and important opportunity to experience high-level discussions of the many challenges faced in the region and potential emerging solutions.
The course itself addresses the rapid and substantial impacts of climate change on the Arctic, which are facilitating expanded human use and exploitation of its resources. The curriculum analyses the governance challenges and opportunities for collaboration among Arctic states, other nations with interests in the region, and the international community. Students evaluate the impacts of current geopolitical events on cooperation, analyse potential future governance frameworks, and highlight the special role of Indigenous peoples.
Visit to the Iceland Ocean Cluster (Sjávarklassinn)
In addition to the Assembly, the students visited the Iceland Ocean Cluster, where they were hosted by Benedek Regoczi, an Innovation Project Manager and an alumnus of the University Centre of the Westfjords.
The students learned about the Cluster's mission: to connect entrepreneurs, businesses, and researchers to drive innovation in the blue economy. The Cluster aims to maximize value creation from marine resources, fostering collaboration across industries to ensure sustainable and profitable growth, particularly by turning seafood side streams into new opportunities. This visit provided a practical look at economic and environmental innovation that complemented the policy discussions at the Assembly.