This week we have once again had the pleasure of welcoming a new cohort of students for our two master’s programs in Coastal and Marine Management (CMM) and Coastal Communities and Regional Development (CRD). During these times of uncertainties, we are especially happy that all our students have arrived safely and that we can offer in class teaching under social distancing rules that apply to universities in Iceland.

Although the term just started some of these students have already spent a few weeks here in Iceland, either travelling or participating in the Icelandic Language courses offered at the University Centre. A few of them have also been living in Iceland for a few years either working or studying. The students have a vide variety of academic backgrounds and come the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and Finland.

As is to be expected the orientation week is packed with events and lectures to prepare the students for the upcoming academic year. Teaching begins next week with the short introduction course Icelandic Society and Environment. Part of this course is a field trip around the Ísafjarðardjúp bay, which will take the group to village Hesteyri in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.

At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in March we were not necessarily sure that we would have any students in person this autumn. Welcoming this group is therefore quite special. We are of course expecting that some adjustments might be put in place and plans B or C implemented when it comes to teaching. But at least the students are here and ready to dive into the exciting topics of resource management and regional development. We are all looking forward to the upcoming academic year and working with this great group of future resource managers and regional developers.