Arcade

Last week, the ARCADE programme gathered in Iceland for its January intensive week 🇮🇸

🌍 Over the course of a week, our cohort of graduate students engaged with key questions surrounding climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Arctic.

📚Through lectures, seminars, and group work at the University of Iceland, participants explored topics including Arctic geopolitics, socio-economic impacts of climate change, the green energy transition, leadership and sustainability, tourism mobilities, and environmental governance.

🏔️ A central part of the programme was a multi-day field trip to South-East Iceland, where students experienced first-hand how climate change is shaping Arctic environments and local communities. Highlights included visits to geothermal energy sites, Vatnajökull National Park, as well as a glacier hike at Breiðarmerkurjökull. In Hornafjörður, the group engaged directly with researchers, park managers, municipal leaders, and community representatives, gaining valuable insight into local perspectives on climate adaptation, tourism, and regional development.

💬 The Iceland intensive week concluded with reflections on leadership, collaboration, and the role of interdisciplinary knowledge in addressing Arctic challenges, setting the stage for the next phase of the ARCADE programme.

We now look ahead with to the next ARCADE intensive week in Nuuk, Greenland in June 🇬🇱 ✨

The ARCADE programme is a collaboration between
Háskóli Íslands, Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði, Ilisimatusarfik, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Fróðskaparsetur Føroya and The Arctic Initiative

Photos: Kristinn Ingvarsson, Þorvarður Árnason, Tráin Nónklett and Ríkey Þöll Jóhannesdóttir

🔗 Learn more about the project here: https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/

⏰ Final Call

Tomorrow is the last opportunity to apply for the ARCADE program, a five-month, 10 ECTS interdisciplinary initiative on Arctic governance, sustainability, and leadership.

The program offers:

❄️ Intensive learning weeks in Greenland and Iceland

💻 Online seminars with international experts

🤝 Collaborative projects, including a policy paper and a student-led podcast

🌍 A cross-Arctic academic network spanning five universities

If you want to deepen your understanding of Arctic challenges and contribute to solutions, this is the final chance to join the 2026 cohort.

🔗 More information and application details:
https://english.hi.is/news/course-arctic-open-masters-students-all-academic-fields-university-iceland

Partners: Háskóli Íslands, Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði, Ilisimatusarfik, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Fróðskaparsetur Føroya, The Arctic Initiative

Course on the Arctic open to Master's students from all academic fields at the University of Iceland The Centre for Arctic Studies offers an exciting course this spring semester open to all master's students in all fields of study.

👂Hear from our former students!

🌍 Applications are open for ARCADE – Arctic Resilience through Climate Action, Development, and Education for Spring 2026
📧 Send your application to [email protected] by November 6, 2025

❄️ ARCADE seeks innovative ways to address Arctic challenges in times of change through a course that emphasizes strengthening leadership skills and creative solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program consists of two in-person, week-long modules in Iceland and Greenland.

👉 More information:
🔗 https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/

Partners: Centre for Arctic Studies, University of Iceland ( Sustainability Institute at the University of Iceland), Ilisimatusarfik, UiT- The Arctic University of Norway, The University of the Faroe Islands, Harvard's Arctic Initiative

🌍 Applications are now open for ARCADE – Arctic Resilience through Climate Action, Development, and Education for Spring 2026!

❄️ ARCADE seeks innovative ways to address Arctic challenges in times of change through a course that emphasizes strengthening leadership skills and creative solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program consists of two in-person, week-long modules in Iceland and Greenland.

📍 Two in-person modules:
🇮🇸: January 25 – February 1, 2026
🇬🇱: June 5 – 12, 2026

💻 Online seminars and group projects between the modules, where students strengthen their ability to present academic research to the general public, the media, and stakeholders—both in speech and in writing.

Would you like to participate?
📧 Send your application to [email protected] by November 6, 2025!
👉 More information:
🔗 https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/

Partners: Háskóli Íslands, Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði, Ilisimatusarfik, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Fróðskaparsetur Føroya, The Arctic Initiative

New online course now live!

The University of Iceland has launched a free open course on edX focusing on the urgent challenges facing the Arctic in a time of rapid change ❄️

Explore topics like Arctic governance, climate impacts, and community-based adaptation, while building skills in leadership and science communication.

🎓 The teaching team includes experts from the University of Iceland, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, and Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland. The course is part of the ARCADE initiative, which has been supported by Erasmus+ since 2022.

🎉 We’re excited to share that ARCADE has received renewed Erasmus+ funding through 2027, with future editions now also involving the University of the Faroe Islands (Fróðskaparsetur Føroya).

🔗 Link to the edX course in the first comment below.

Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Háskóli Íslands, UiT Norges arktiske universitet, Ilisimatusarfik, The Arctic Initiative, Fróðskaparsetur Føroya, Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði

✨ Exciting times for ARCADE! ✨

Last week, we gathered in Iceland with our amazing partners to record video lectures for our upcoming Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on EdX. This interdisciplinary course will dive deep into the Arctic's fast-changing landscape, offering a fresh perspective on its challenges and opportunities.

🌍 The program explores Arctic studies from all angles—connecting climate change, sustainability (environmental, societal, and economic), security, geopolitics, and the socio-economic realities faced by Arctic communities.

🤝 And because the Arctic needs strong leaders, we’re integrating leadership training to empower individuals who can champion Arctic issues and bring their voices to policymakers, media, and the global stage.

👀 Stay tuned for the course launch in the coming months

The 2024 ARCADE cohort presented the results of their 10-month research at the Arctic Circle Assembly! ❄

Over the past 10 months, 10 PhD and Master’s students have participated in the Arctic Academy for Social and Environmental Leadership (ARCADE), an interdisciplinary program dedicated to tackling the unique challenges facing the Arctic. 🌍

At this year’s Arctic Circle Assembly, our ARCADE fellows presented innovative solutions to address the impacts of climate change in the Arctic. Their research highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing strategies for a sustainable future in the region. 🌱

We are incredibly proud of our fellows for their dedication, leadership, and passion for the Arctic region! 🎓💙

The partners behind ARCADE are: Háskóli Íslands, Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Ilisimatusarfik & UiT Norges arktiske universitet
In cooperation with the Arctic Circle, The Arctic Initiative & Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði

The programme is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Don't miss the ARCADE session at the Arctic Circle Assembly!

Climate change is a significant global challenge, and the Arctic region is particularly vulnerable to its consequences. Over the past ten months, 10 students have participated in the Arctic Academy for Social and Environmental Leadership (ARCADE).

During this session, four student groups will present interdisciplinary solutions to address one of the challenges posed by climate change in the Arctic. The session will also showcase the ARCADE program's accomplishments and underscore the value of emphasising academic cooperation in the Arctic and pursuing interdisciplinary approaches to tackle future challenges in the region.

Further information about the project: https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/

The partners behind ARCADE are: Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Ilisimatusarfik & UiT Norges arktiske universitet.

In cooperation with the Arctic Circle & the Arctic Initiative.

Last week, ARCADE held its third intensive programme in Nuuk, Greenland! 🇬🇱❄️

The programme focused on providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of sustainability and climate change in the Arctic and their impact on local communities. Key themes explored throughout the week included environmental and social sustainability in the Arctic region, international relations, tourism development, and gender dynamics in Greenland. 👩🏽‍🏫🏔️🏙️🌿

To gain practical insights into these issues, participants met with Naaja Nathanielsen, the Minister for Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice, and Gender Equality in Greenland, and Aqqaluk Lynge, who served as President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council from 1995 to 2002. The group also visited the Consulate General of Iceland and the European Commission Office in Greenland and attended insightful lectures organised by academics at Ilisimatusarfik, UiT, the Arctic University of Norway and the University of Iceland. To further enrich their understanding, they embarked on a day-long boat excursion to Qooqqut in the Nuuk fjord. 🚤🎣

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the ARCADE programme in Nuuk and are looking forward to the final meeting of the cohort at the Arctic Circle Assembly in October where the group will present the projects they have been working on since January!

Ilisimatusarfik, Háskóli Íslands, UiT Norges arktiske universitet, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir

Last week, the second intensive ARCADE programme took place in Iceland! 🇮🇸

During their week in Iceland, our cohort of 10 pioneering graduate students attended lectures and seminars that delved into topics such as climate change and biodiversity, the green energy transition, tourism and gender equality in the Arctic region.

During the week, the group embarked on a field trip to Suðursveit, where they were hosted by Dr. Þorvarður Árnason, Director of the Research Centre of the University of Iceland in Hornafjörður (Rannsóknasetrið á Hornafirði). Þorvarður led a day-long module focused on Climate Change Communication and Protected Areas. During their stay in Suðursveit, the group also visited Vatnajökull National Park (Skaftafell - Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður) and went on a Glacier hike, where the students experienced the impact of climate change on glaciers in Iceland and local communities.

We are looking forward to our next intensive programme in Nuuk in August! 🇬🇱

The partners behind ARCADE are: Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Ilisimatusarfiki & UiT Norges arktiske universitet

Further information on the project here: https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/

Last week, the first intensive program of the 2024 ARCADE program took place in Tromsø, Norway 🇳🇴

Our cohort of 12 pioneering graduate students participated in a program that focused on the emerging political and security challenges in the Arctic region, including those arising from climate change, great power competition, and hybrid threats. The program included lectures and seminars by academics from UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, Ilisimatusarfik - the University of Greenland and the University of Iceland. During the intensive week, the cohort also attended the Arctic Frontiers conference, visited the Fram Centre, and took a field trip to the beautiful Island of Husøy. During the field trip, the local secondary school students guided the cohort around the island. The cohort also visited the local seafood corporation Brødrene Karlsen and learned about the Smart Senjaa energy project.

ARCADE, which stands for The Arctic Academy for Social and Environmental Leadership, is a unique 10-month, intensive, multidisciplinary program. It aims to meet the challenges of the fast-changing Arctic with a leadership program that focuses on creative solutions with an interdisciplinary approach.

The partners behind ARCADE are: Rannsóknasetur um norðurslóðir, Sjálfbærnistofnun Háskóla Íslands, Ilisimatusarfik & UiT Norges arktiske universitet
In cooperation with the Arctic Circle & The Arctic Initiative

Further information about the project: https://ams.hi.is/en/projects/arcade/