For the first time The University Centre of the Westfjords now offers a doctoral room for rent. The facility is a spacious office for two academics located in the very heart of the Centre with all its services at hand. A moderate rent is charged making it quite affordable for doctoral students on a tight budget. Although the office is a new addition to the Centre‘s operation it has always strived to provide university students at all levels access to the centre and all its services. However, the doctoral room is a welcomed addition. Should the demand for such accomodations increase the Centre has every intention of meeting that demand.

By offering the doctoral room the University Centre is adding to the value of the academia in the Westfjords. In addition to the academic expertise the doctoral students bring into the region they often take on teaching and become involved in various projects aimed at enhancing the local economy.

The first tenant of the new doctoral room is Sigurður Halldór Árnason, a native of Ísafjörður. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in biology with a focus on vertebrate ecology and evolution in a joint program at Hólar University college and the University of Iceland. Sigurður moved from Ísafjörður at a young age but recently moved back with his family. He is quite happy with his new office and has settled in nicely. He believes that a facility like this could attract more academics to the Westfjords, especially those natives who have moved away and want to return back home.