UiT – The Arctic University of Norway hosted the north2north national coordinators from Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Canada, as well as institutional coordinators from higher education institutions in all active Arctic member countries. Participants and representatives provided updates on their respective institutions, highlighted recent exchange data, and shared national progress. The two-day meeting is organized and run by Isabelle Guissard, UArctic’s Vice President Mobility, and Natalia Kononova, the Norwegian national north2north coordinator.

Topics discussed include:

  • National funding mechanisms and targets
  • The inclusion of Non-Arctic members into the north2north network, including universities in Scotland and France
  • Varying challenges that non-traditional students and students from less common or rigid disciplines face regarding mobility exchange
Cake to celebrate the first north2north gathering in a few years.
Cake to celebrate the first north2north gathering in a few years.

Tonight, participants will visit the Alta Museum World Heritage Rock Art Center to ground themselves in the surroundings, and tomorrow the north2north meeting will continue to facilitate conversation on virtual mobility opportunities, the application process, fee waivers, and student mobility.

Natalia Kononova (left) and Isabelle Guissard (right) highlighting the north2north network.
Natalia Kononova (left) and Isabelle Guissard (right) highlighting the north2north network.

Mona Johnson, who had been inducted to the Friends of UArctic at the 2023 Assembly in Quebec City, received recognition and a glass to commemorate her years of work as the Director of the UArctic north2north international Coordination Office.

Presentation of UArctic glass for Mona Johnson.
Presentation of UArctic glass for Mona Johnson.
Pirkko Pulkkanen and Mona Johnson
Pirkko Pulkkanen and Mona Johnson