UW Iceland

One of our last courses of the semester was about practical tools for stronger communities. Read more about it below!

Practical Tools for Stronger Communities From June 8 to 19, students at the University Centre of the Westfjords took part in the course Tools for Community Development, taught by Dr. John Colton.

Although our master's students are on their summer break, there's still plenty of students in the building taking our Icelandic Courses

Learning Icelandic in the Heart of the Community in Ísafjörður Every year, the University Centre of the Westfjords offers summer courses in Icelandic, and this year is no exception. A total of 88 students are

Check out this interview with Catherine Chambers, UW’s director!

Nestled among the majestic mountains surrounding Ísafjörður, American-born Catherine Chambers has found her place in the world. She lives there with her husband, Dan Govoni, and their two daughters, Friðrika and Lóa, both of whom were given Icelandic names, having been born and raised in Iceland.

Students from FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management visited us recently along with Ketill Berg Magnússon. A great group and a good visit - we hope to welcome them again next year!

Students from FOM University of Applied Sciences Visit the University Centre of the Westfjords Students from FOM University of Applied Sciences stayed at the University Centre of the Westfjords from June 15 to 26. The visit was part of FOM’s summer p

From May 26 to June 5, students at the University Centre of the Westfjords took part in the summer course Regional Policy Evaluation, taught by Krišjānis Veitners.

The course introduced students to the practical side of evaluation, with a focus on regional policies and development programmes. Through mini lectures, interactive sessions, occasional guest lectures, and a field visit to a local development project, students explored how evaluation can be planned, carried out, and communicated in real-world contexts.

The instructor, Krišjānis Veitners, is an independent evaluation and monitoring expert from Latvia with close to thirty years of experience in the field. He has worked across Europe and the Baltic region on evaluations, impact assessments, and monitoring assignments in areas such as regional development, education, governance, research and innovation, social protection, migration and asylum, transport, housing, and culture.

Students Learn Hands-On Approaches to Regional Policy Evaluation From May 26 to June 5, students at the University Centre of the Westfjords took part in the course Regional Policy Evaluation, taught by Krišjānis V

"When I was asked to give a speech for graduation, I found myself thinking about a question that accompanied many of us here: why?

For me, that question started long before I arrived in Iceland. When I told people I was moving to the Westfjords, most of the responses were some version of, "Why?": Why move somewhere so far away? Why move to a town with a smaller population than my high school back home? Or Why leave behind everything familiar for a place most people have never heard of?"

Read the full speech on our website

Graduation Speech: Katrin Zender When I was asked to give a speech for graduation, I found myself thinking about a question that accompanied many of us here: why?

From May 26 to June 5, students at the University Centre of the Westfjords took part in the course Sustainable Waste Management in Coastal Communities, taught by Dr. Felicitas Schneider.

Waste management is a complex and multidisciplinary issue, with no single solution that fits every place or community. Decisions must take into account legal frameworks, regional conditions, available technologies and environmental considerations. This is especially important in sensitive coastal regions, where communities may face particular challenges related to infrastructure, transport, pollution pathways, marine environments and extreme climate conditions.

As part of the course, students visited Funi and the sorting plant in Ísafjörður, where representatives from the company Kubbur welcomed the group and showed them around.

https://www.uw.is/en/news/sustainable-waste-management-in-coastal-communities

Photos from the graduation ceremony in Hrafnseyri 🎓

Read more about day itself here: https://www.uw.is/en/news/a-beautiful-haskolahatid-in-hrafnseyri

UW master’s students from the courses “Coastal and Marine Management: Practical Applications and Challenges” and “Tools for Community Development” recently visited Vigur Island as part of their studies.

The field trip provided students with the opportunity to explore a unique island environment, connect course topics with real-world experiences, and learn about Vigur’s history, natural surroundings, and the challenges and opportunities of life in a remote coastal setting.

Thank you to instructors Dr. Maxine Westhead and Dr. John Colton for organising this valuable learning experience outside the classroom. Big thank you to the people of Vigur island for welcoming our students!