This week the Prime Minister’s Office of Iceland issued a Strategic Plan for the Westfjords that was done by a committee on social and economic development in the Westjords. One of the suggestions in the plan is to fund a new master’s program at the University Centre of the Westfjords. The new program will be on Coastal Communities and Regional Development.

A master’s program in regional development has not previously been offered in Iceland but will without a doubt be a boost for the current academic discussions on these matters nationwide. The University Centre of the Westfjords has focused on marine and coastal issues in a wide sense. Therefore the new program fits perfectly with those goals. The location of the program in the Westfjords will also be an asset for the program in multiple ways.

The University Centre has long had plans to set up a new master’s program parallel to the current program in Coastal and Marine Management. The new program in Coastal Communities and Regional Development has been in the pipelines for quite some time. Two programs will support each other in multiple ways and the number of students on campus is expected to double. In addition hiring one more academic staff member will enhance the capability of the University Centre considerably.

To utilize the positive synergy effect that two programs will have the board of the University Centre has motioned that accreditation for the new program will be submitted to the University of Akureyri in light of the current fruitful cooperation with Coastal and Marine Management.