Circumpolar university seeks stable funding

Seven years after the idea first surfaced, the University of the Arctic is finding its place in the circumpolar world, with more than 60 member institutions in eight countries and a projected enrollment of 250 students.

But the UArctic now has to find a stable funding source, so it can continue to make plans and grow.

The UArctic needs about $8 million a year in committed funding to survive and flourish — for which Clifford Lincoln, the former Canadian chairman of the Arctic Parliamentarians, made a heartfelt plea at this organization’s recent meeting in Nuuk, Greenland.

“The $8 million figure, it’s in the right order of magnitude,” said Greg Poelzer, the dean of undergraduate studies for UArctic, who was in Yellowknife recently to pitch UArctic to the Northern Research Forum.

Poelzer said the U.S. has been slow to back up its support for the UArctic with money. Funding from Russia, where 75 per cent of UArctic’s potential students live, has also proven hard to tap into.

“Education, when it comes to funding, is a political issue,” Poelzer said.

UArctic is a Web-based institution of higher learning. That is, it’s intended to be a university without walls, offering courses that can be taught on line. Courses are designed for delivery in a wide variety of academic situations: in the classroom, through intensive semesters of study or via distance-learning methods such as Web-delivery.

But UArctic still needs money to design its courses, find qualified instructors and keep its administrative offices in operation.

Canada, Finland, Norway and Iceland have all pitched in with services, supporting personnel and money.

The UArctic’s Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies of BCS is based on a four-year, 120 credit program of study. Students who want to work towards a BCS study for two years earn 60 credits at one of the participating circumpolar educational institutions such as Nunavut Arctic College.

A third of credits for the degree come from UArctic’s core of courses, available at N.A.C. Materials are available in English, and are also being translated into Russian.

“But even if the course is taught in English, a student can ask to write an exam or papers in his or her own language,” Poelzer said.

During the first two years of study, students take a survey course, called “Circumpolar Studies 100 — Introduction to the Circumpolar World,” as well as courses on the “Land and Environment” and “Peoples and Culture.”

During their last two years of study, students can take courses offered at one or several circumpolar institutions of higher learning. Students complete 60 credits of courses in such areas as geology, biology, climatology, archeology, languages, political science, economics, education or law.

These credits are transferable from one participating circumpolar institution to another.

BCS students must also complete an “advanced emphasis.” This is an in-depth study of a circumpolar issue or topic such as Arctic Governance, Polar Oceanography and Meteorology or Arctic Perspectives on Norwegian Arts and Crafts.

Through UArctic, the Nunavut Arctic College wants to develop and offer a five-course advanced emphasis on Northern policy and Administration, which would allow students in Nunavut to remain in the territory to work towards their BCS degree.

UArctic also wants to develop courses based on traditional knowledge in the circumpolar world.

The University of Northern British Columbia, Bødø Regional University and the University of Lapland already offer a full degree on circumpolar studies. Several member institutions are also offering courses.

The UArctic also coordinates a Circumpolar Mobility Program that allows students to study at other member institutions in the circumpolar world. In 2004/5, this will involve eight students from Canada who will receive up to $5000 to participate in the exchange program.

Mary Simon, Canada’s former Arctic ambassador, sits on the UArctic’s board of governors and is a firm UArctic supporter.

“Without more access and higher quality education that meets the needs of northerners, and especially indigenous people, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to meet the challenges that face our communities,” Simon said.