Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Higher Education in the International Polar Year  (Higher Education in the International Polar Year)

Outline
This proposes the adoption of the University of the Arctic (UArctic) in its entirety as a project of the International Polar Year (IPY).UArctic is unique as a mechanism for providing higher education and building capacity throughout the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. UArctic is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North. With 72 participating organizations, the reach of UArctic is fully circumpolar.The University’s mission is to empower individuals and, in the process, to contribute to the development of sustainable communities in the North.UArctic has received a clear mandate to take the lead in higher education in the circumpolar north from the Arctic Council, the Arctic Parliamentarians and the ministers of science and higher education of the Arctic states.UArctic’s members share resources, facilities, and expertise to develop and build post-secondary education programs that are relevant and accessible to northern students both in the classroom and online. UArctic promotes education that is interdisciplinary, circumpolar, and designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. UArctic is committed to the integration of traditional knowledge into all its activities. It recognizes the key role of indigenous peoples in higher education in the circumpolar north and is committed to including indigenous faculty and students in the development of curriculum and delivery of courses to a wide range of students.The University plays a key role in identifying and educating the next generation of scientists and leaders interested in the northern polar region. While UArctic focuses on initiatives involving northern universities and colleges, the University also welcomes interest on the part of students and faculty members located outside the Arctic region, It is fully prepared to integrate these southerners into all its activities.UArctic offers a ready-made vehicle for transmitting the results of IPY to a wide range of students and to the interested public at large. Acting in this role will also help strengthen and deepen the cooperation between UArctic’s members. Mutually beneficial cooperation between the IPY and UArctic can take three distinct – but not mutually exclusive -- forms: 1) promoting UArctic as a joint deliverable of IPY with a mandate to educate all those interested in the north polar region with a particular emphasis on the needs of northerners as they seek to build sustainable communities, 2) serving as a vehicle for disseminating the results of IPY at the post-secondary level and to the interested public at large, 3) supporting IPY projects developed by individual UArctic members and assisting in the submission of these projects through national IPY committees.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
· UArctic provide a unique mechanism to bring research results about the Arctic to undergraduate studies throughout the circumpolar north.· UArctic promote sharing and coordination of field-based training that will efficiently contribute to the preparation of the next generation of Arctic Scientists, including skills in logistics and safety.· The proposed PhD scholarships to indigenous PhD students to follow-up IPY activities will increase the number of experts with local knowledge.· The north2north student exchanges for IPY related course offerings at northern locations will motivate undergraduate and graduate students to future Arctic research career. The proposed south2north program will do the same for students from southern located institutions.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
UArctic is a circumpolar network of northern Universities and Colleges. UArctic cooperate closely with circumpolar organisations like the Arctic Council, its Indigenous Organisations, the International Arctic Science Committee, and the International Arctic Social Sciences Association. UArctic welcome cooperation with other higher education initiatives.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
All Arctic locations may be relevant for field school activities

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: All, mostly summer            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
UArctic is based on its member institutions and their facilities. Northern Universities welcome cooperation with IPY project in general.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
After the IPY it is expected to exist a largely improved network between northern universities and colleges

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This proposal is endorsed by UArctic governing bodies and is in the process of being handled by national IPY committees in the eight arctic states.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
yes

The proposal is an expansion if UArctic activities to support the goals of IPY

How will the project be organised and managed?
The proposed activities will be organised by the existing UArctic structures. http://www.uarctic.org/organization.html

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The main purpose of this proposal is to provide IPY with an efficient tool to serve its education and outreach goals in particular for higher education.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The proposed activities are partly funded through UArctic normal operations while others will require development of specific project proposals.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The attached concept paper give a comprehensive list of UArctic programs, how they can support IPY and what new activities that are proposed to be specifically developed for IPY.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Director Lars Kullerud
University of the Arctic
Box 122
Rovaniemi
FIN-96101
Finland

Tel: +358-16-341 2712
Mobile: +47 90870099
Fax: +358-16-341 2777
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation