On Thursday August 25 the autumn term 2017 began at the University Centre of the Westfjords with an orientation for a new cohort of CMM master students. This cohort, with 23 students of 9 nationalities, is the ninth to begin studies on the CMM program, which was launched in September 2008. Like past cohorts, the new students’ backgrounds are diverse, as they have e.g. previously completed degrees in biology, geography, environmental studies, agriculture, graphic design, literature and history.

Although the term just started some of these students have already spent a few weeks here in Iceland, as some of them participated in Icelandic language courses here at the University Centre.  During these first days of the master’s program the students got a short introduction to the program in form of a short course. This week they will get acquainted with the Icelandic setting in a course on Iceland; the society, environment and natural resources.  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 as well as to Vigur island, a popular destination among visitors in the area. During the coming winter the students will be introduced to various disciplines and methods, to prepare them for their future careers in the field of coastal and marine management. After course phase is completed, students will engage in individual work with final projects of their own choice.

We welcome our new students and look forward to work with them during the next few terms.