News

The University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) has a new addition to its team. Hjördís Þráinsdóttir started her role as a project manager in a 50% position on November 1st. Originally from Súðavík, Hjördís has lived in Ísafjörður for 25 years. She is married with three sons and has primarily worked as a records manager for the municipality of Ísafjörður since 2008. Hjördís holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Akureyri and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Educational Sciences along with a diploma in Special Education from the same university.

Dr. Catherine Chambers, UW’s research manager and project leader for the Jules Verne project, along with project coordinator and UW alumna Alex Tyas, have just returned from a trip to Bayonne, France in association with a Jules Verne grant which supports research collaboration between Icelandic and French partners. Catherine and Alex also gave presentations during the Haizebegi festival that celebrates Basque culture.

Every year, the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) provides a unique opportunity for students to attend the Arctic Circle Assembly as part of two of its key courses: Arctic Ocean Governance and Just Transitions. The assembly, held annually in Reykjavík, brings together a wide range of global experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss pressing Arctic issues. For UW students, it offers much more than just attending sessions; it’s an experience that adds to their academic journey and broadens their professional horizons. This year, the group attending the assembly consisted of staff from UW, instructors, and numerous master's students.

In light of the Global Ethics Day on October 16th, we are reflecting on the importance of ethical decision-making in environmental management. Students in the course “Ethics of conservation and resource use” went on a field trip this week where they visited the hydropower plants at Engidalur, to learn more about hydropower development throughout the Westfjords, and the existing conflicting interests around it. The course introduces the students to a diverse set of theories and principles for ethical environmental management.

From 2021 to 2024, the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) was part of the international research project called CliCNord (Climate Change Resilience in Small Communities in the Nordic Countries). Our Academic Director, Matthias Kokorsch, was the project leader for the Icelandic CliCNord team. With the funding that the project received, Matthias was able to hire three students in the Coastal Communities and Regional Development master’s program at UW as research assistants. All three master’s students conducted their master’s thesis research within their projects with CliCNord.

Master's students from the Coastal Communities and Regional Development program recently participated in a series of field trips as part of the "People and the Sea: Geographical Perspectives" course. Over three weeks, the students explored Ísafjörður and nearby communities, learning about the historical development of the region, the socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by its inhabitants, and the ongoing efforts to adapt to climate change. The field trips provided insights into how the Westfjords are balancing new economic opportunities like tourism and aquaculture with the need for sustainable infrastructure and environmental protection.

On Thursday and Friday, October 3rd and 4th, the conference “Islands as Diverse Spaces” was held at the University Centre of the Westfjords. The aim of the conference was to highlight the importance of islands and remote communities, which are constantly evolving and crucial to study. One of the key characteristics of islands and remote communities is resilience, biological diversity, and cultural richness. Islands and remote communities also play an important role in terms of international ecological and cultural heritage. With this role in mind, the conference aimed to explore island communities through three broad themes: culture, language, and education.

The University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) will be a part of the “Green Meets Blue Project” financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (NCM FJLS). The project is led by Nordregio, with UW, and the University of Highlands and Islands (Scotland) as collaborators. Matthias Kokorsch, academic director at UW, is the project leader for the Icelandic case study. He is supported by Research Assistants Rebecca and Tabea, both current UW master’s students, as well as UW alumn and instructor Maria Wilke, who wrote her PhD on public participation in marine spatial planning.

On Friday, September 13th, a conference on the social and solidarity economy took place at the University Centre of the Westfjords (UW). Over 50 people attended the conference, and the lectures were as interesting as they were diverse. The conference began with light refreshments provided by UW, and Peter Weiss, the director, welcomed the attendees and gave an opening address. He also announced the absence of the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, who was unable to attend due to a funeral.

Last Saturday, the new UW master’s students went on a trip to Vigur Island, an Arctic island located in the northwest of Iceland, renowned for its importance as a habitat for birdlife and its eiderdown collection. The group consisted of UW master’s students from the Coastal Marine Management program and the Coastal Communities and Regional Development program. Also with them were master’s students from the Climate Change and Global Sustainability (CCGS) program at the School of International Training in Vermont. The CCGS students are spending a semester with us here at UW.