NArFU’s Rector Elena Kydryashova has congratulated the students on receiving diplomas. The Rector mentioned in her greeting speech: “Due to the “Bachelor of Circumpolar studies” program our graduates have obtained intercultural experience, as they were provided with an internship at the University of Nordland. It proves that the graduates have become not only good specialists in the field of regional studies, but also people with rich life experience which will be useful for the development of international cooperation in the Arctic.”
Marit Sundet, lead of the BCS program at the University of Nordland, mentioned in her congratulation speech that number of BCS students from Northern Arctic Federal University is the biggest and NArFU is a leading partner for UiN and active member of the University of the Arctic. The ceremony was held in a warm atmosphere. The graduates thanked their teachers from the University of Nordland and NArFU’ Department of International cooperation staff for their help and energies they gave them. One of the graduates from the Institute of Management and Regional Studies Elizaveta Shepeleva thanked teachers in the Norwegian language.
The graduates from the Institute of Philology and Cross-cultural Communication made a presentation about their experience of studying at the BCS program and short term visit to the University of Nordland. They have shared their thoughts about the program and the ceremony: “Today is a very important day for us. It symbolizes the end of a difficult but happy period of studies in the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies Program. To tell the truth we made a considerable progress during our studies – at the very beginning we didn’t even know the word “circumpolar”. It’s important to note that BCS program was integrated in our study-plan at the NARFU. We hope this cooperation would be successful further on and many other students will get the chance to study at this program. This experience was so valuable and unforgettable! We have understood, that the borders which exist in this world are meant to be crossed: borders between countries, between cultures, between universities and borders between people. Thanks to the BCS programme, we are now interested in our home region and we are proud to be called Northerners.”
At the end of the ceremony Norwegian teachers performed for the graduates and guests of the ceremony. They played guitars and sang. This performing made the event even more festive and memorable.