SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME: Researcher Elena Zhurova Sæther and Associate Professor Olga Iermolenko have secured support for their summer school initiative for the next two years. PHOTO: Markus Johnsen Thonhaugen.
The High North Center at Nord University has received 400,000 kroner for an innovative summer course on Sustainable Blue Growth in the High North.
The course is part of a larger initiative to strengthen competence in the Arctic blue economy, that is, knowledge about sustainable value creation and resource utilization.
– This is knowledge we really need, says Elena Zhurova Sæther, researcher at the High North Center at Nord University.
Blue economy encompasses everything from fisheries and aquaculture to tourism and mineral extraction. In the Arctic, these industries are particularly important, but also vulnerable.
– There are no boundaries in the ocean. Therefore, international cooperation is especially important in the context of blue economy, she adds.
Funding Secures Initiative for Two More Years
The course, which runs for a week in July starting Monday, will combine theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. Students will meet local businesses and see how blue economy works in practice in Northern Norway.
– We want European students to get more than just theoretical knowledge, explains Olga Iermolenko, Associate Professor at the High North Center at Nord University.
The High North Center has several projects within blue economy in the Arctic, including AlaskaNor, ArcBlue and BlueArctic. There will be synergies between these projects and the summer school.
– The very intent of our various 'blue economy' projects at the High North Center is to connect maritime stakeholders across the Arctic, specifically in Alaska, Greenland and North Norway, says researcher Andreas Raspotnik, who also works closely with the topic at the High North Center.
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– The summer course offers an excellent opportunity to go another step beyond by - this time - also including the future generation of maritime stakeholder when discussing the complexity that is the 'Arctic blue economy'.
This year, there are 15 registered participants, and next year the organizers hope for at least 20 participants. The support ensures the course will be conducted in both 2025 and 2026.
This year, some of the participants will have parts of their costs covered, including hotel accommodation. With the new funds, absolutely all students will receive support for part of their stay in both 2025 and 2026.
Nord University Receives 1.5 Million in Funding
The course is one of six courses offered under Nord Summer School 2024, taking place July 1-5 at the Bodø campus.
Other courses include sustainable tourism development, work and health, outdoor health, ecological economics, and experiences in extreme environments.
The funds that the High North Center has received come from a pool managed by UArctic. This is a network of educational and research institutions in the Arctic.
In total, Nord University has received 1.5 million from this pool across four projects, three of which are affiliated with the Business School.
Sæther and Iermolenko look forward to welcoming the students and explain that they will collaborate with partners who have a solid professional background.
– We also have applicants from Nord University, and hope for more local applicants next year.
Eligible applicants:
- Qualified applicants are those with active student rights at a college or university in Norway – or who have active student rights at one of the SEA-EU universities.
- SEA-EU is a European university alliance for cooperation in education and research in Europe. Members are: University of Cadiz, University of Bretagne Occidentale, Kiel University, University of Gdańsk, University of Split, University of Malta, Parthenope University of Naples, University of Algarve.
- Students with active student rights at a university in the USA, Canada, or EU/EEA with which Nord University has an exchange agreement can also apply.
Eligible applicants:
- Qualified applicants are those with active student rights at a college or university in Norway – or who have active student rights at one of the SEA-EU universities.
- SEA-EU is a European university alliance for cooperation in education and research in Europe. Members are: University of Cadiz, University of Bretagne Occidentale, Kiel University, University of Gdańsk, University of Split, University of Malta, Parthenope University of Naples, University of Algarve.
- Students with active student rights at a university in the USA, Canada, or EU/EEA with which Nord University has an exchange agreement can also apply.
