Representatives of the University of the Arctic (UArctic ), the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat, the Norwegian ministry of foreign Affairs and the University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS) met 6-8 February to discuss the creation of a field version of the Circumpolar Studies (BCS) introductory course BCS 100. The course would be designed for government officials, NGO’s, researchers and members of the private sector who are involved in the Circumpolar North.
“The new important role of the Arctic has made it necessary for many new decision makers to understand the realties of the Circumpolar North,” says UArctic Field School Chair Eystein Markusson. “There are an increasing number of officials who need to know about the international Arctic, but the possibilities to obtain knowledge are limited.”
The course would be for 20-25 participants and would be located in Svalbard. The first session would be during the summer 2007, in conjunction with the 2007-2009 International Polar Year (IPY). UArctic and UNIS will both play are role in designing and owning the course.
More Information:
Circumpolar Studies
UArctic Field School
UNIS
International Polar Year (IPY)