December 1st, Icelandic Sovereignty Day, is the former national holiday of Iceland. On December 1st, 1918, the Act of Union between Iceland and Denmark took effect, in which Denmark formally recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state. The day did not immediately become a national holiday, but over time it did, and remained so until the establishment of the republic.

On Monday, November 24, exam season at the Icelandic universities begins, and Westfjords distance students will make their way to the University Centre to take their exams.

The University Centre of the Westfjords has received a grant of ISK 924,222 from the Climate and Energy Fund in the category “Energy Transition in Operations or Energy Savings,” specifically for installing sustainable energy equipment at UW.

A course on Oceanography started last week at UW.

A course in regional and community economies started last week at UW.

Last week a course in Physical Processes of Coastal Environments started at UW.

The University Centre of the Westfjords recently welcomed more French-speaking guests. In addition to David Didier and his colleagues and students from the Université du Québec à Rimouski, three teachers from Lycée de la mer Paul Bousquet—the “Comprehensive School of the Sea”—in Sète, near Montpellier on France’s Mediterranean coast, also paid a visit. These visits highlight just how far-reaching the University Centre’s network of partnerships and collaborations has become.

In recent days, the sound of French has filled the halls of the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW), thanks to a visit from welcomed guests from Canada. The Centre was pleased to welcome Dr. David Didier, university lecturer at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, accompanied by three colleagues and a group of twelve students in the field of geomorphology.

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.