After the decision was made by the 110 member Council of the UArctic to establish the Graduate Area, early last fall an open call was made seeking proposals from member 
institutional interested in leadership this activity. Subsequently, five institutions from five different countries submitted proposals, and an external evaluation team of experts conducted a thorough review of the applications, and submitted their recommendations to the UArctic Board of Governors.
This is a major development for UArctic. Eystein Markusson, Chair of the UArctic Field School expresses his enthusiasm over the decision: "After having led the initial process of assessing the development of a Graduate Area for the University of the Arctic, I am extremely 
pleased to see the commitment from the universities of Lapland and Alaska Fairbanks to cooperate in taking on the leadership. I am confident that cooperation between these two UArctic founding members will bring vitality and new insight into the future development of the UArctic."
Since the start of the New Year, both institutions have been busy settling the details of their partnership, a process that will culminate with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions and the UArctic. The formal signing of the MOU will take place at the University of Lapland on the 26th of February, just prior to the start of the UArctic Rectors’ Forum meeting (February 27th – 29th, 2008).
Meet the two Graduate Leads:
Since its establishment in 1935, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has grown into one of Alaska’s premier higher-education and research institutions. With a student body of over 9,600, UAF offers 163 degrees and 25 certificates in 115 disciplines, at the undergraduate and graduate level. Although UAF offers a variety programs in many different fields of study, the university puts a distinct emphasis on Alaska, the circumpolar North and their diverse peoples. Despite being located in the United States’ northernmost reaches, UAF attracts a large number of international students (288 in 2006) and non-Alaskan students, as well as staff and researchers.
UAF's Akasofu Building, home of the International Arctic Centre
UAF has also been one of the UArctic’s most active members since its establishment in 2001, participating in many UArctic programs and host of the 2004 Council meeting, as well as other important functions. The university is also home to one of the leading research institutions in the Arctic, the International Arctic Research Centre, which serves as a focal point of integrating/synthesizing arctic research efforts in terms of climate change and communicates the results to the global climate research community.
Aerial picture of the UAF campus
It therefore comes as no surprise that they would be committed to the development of the Graduate Area. Chancellor Steve Jones, University of Alaska Fairbanks, also the Chair of the Board of Governors of UArctic, comments: “The University of Alaska Fairbanks, America's Arctic University, is pleased to join another major Arctic University, the University of Lapland, in co-leading UArctic's promising movement into the graduate program area. We are eager to continue our collaboration with the University of Lapland in service to advancing knowledge and graduate education across the Arctic region.”
Since its inception in 1979, the University of Lapland has actively sought to emphasise particular aspects of Northern and Arctic features in its educational as well as research activities. To a large extent it has succeeded in doing so by focusing on its objective to promote knowledge of the Northern regions, their social and cultural development and the welfare of the people living there.
Inside the ULapland
Hence, through years of experience in providing courses and programmes on northern and Arctic issues at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, the University of Lapland has long been a leading institution of higher education in the circumpolar world. Currently, the university has an enrolment of over 13,000 students, including 5,000 full time, 500 postgraduate and 260 foreign exchange students in five faculties; Art and Design, Business and Tourism, Education, Law, and Social Sciences.
Located on the Arctic Circle, in the city of Rovaniemi, the University of Lapland is the northernmost university in Finland and the European Union. With respect to the former, among Finnish universities, the University of Lapland is rated highest by way of regional influence, support, and development. This regional effectiveness is due in part to the utilisation of research findings, the development of extensive training programmes, and an increased effectiveness of cooperation with regional business and industry.
The University of Lapland’s Arctic Centre is a research and science centre which conducts internationally high-level multidisciplinary research, and also provides educatiion.
Instrumental from the beginning, the University of Lapland has taken an active role in developing and supporting UArctic activities, which over the years has included participation in such programmes as the Northern Research Forum (NRF); Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies (BCS); PhD Networks; Field School; north2north; GoNorth; and various Thematic Networks. Besides hosting the upcoming Rectors’ Forum and Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region / SCPAR meetings in February, the University of Lapland has hosted Council, Board of Governors, and various other UArctic meetings.
With respect to the latest UArctic undertaking, University of Lapland’s Rector, Mauri Ylä-Kotola, shares Chancellor Jones’ enthusiasm and commitment for the recent Graduate Area decision: "The University of Lapland is delighted to have been chosen to lead one of the UArctic Strategic Area together with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. We look forward to working with UAF and all other UArctic member institutions in developing Graduate Area program activities that are representative of the entire Circumpolar Arctic."
University of Lapland's Rector Mauri Ylä-Kotola
For more information on the University of Lapland, please visit their
website.
For more information on the University of Alaska Fairbanks, please visit their
website.