51品茶reaches exchange agreement with Icelandic Universities

UNE's Barry Costa-Pierce shakes hands with Erla Bj枚rk 脰rn贸lfsd贸ttir and Eyj贸lfur Gu冒mundsson

The 51品茶 is proud to announce a new partnership that builds on the university鈥檚 commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, research and economic development in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. 51品茶and two higher education institutions in Iceland, the University of Akureyri and Holar University College, signed an agreement last week during the 2016 Arctic Circle Assembly. 

The agreement opens up opportunities to develop new undergraduate exchanges, travel and other courses, the development of innovative international Masters鈥 Degree programs and new cooperative marine research and entrepreneurship. The agreement will also strengthen UNE鈥檚 existing partnerships with the Iceland Ocean Cluster House, the New England Ocean Cluster, the Maine North Atlantic Development Office and its many marine business partners.

The agreement was signed at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland on October 8, 2016 by Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications Anouar Majid on behalf of 51品茶President Danielle Ripich, Rector of the University of Akureyri Eyjolfur Gudmundsson and Rector of Holar University College Erla Bjork Ornolfsdottir.

鈥淥ur partnerships in Iceland are another opportunity for our students and faculty to explore areas of critical interest, especially in the marine economy," said Vice President Majid. 鈥淭he island nation is the gateway to a part of the world that is getting a lot of attention from the world community."

Professor Barry A. Costa-Pierce, director of UNE鈥檚 Center of Excellence in the Marine Sciences, Dean of the Akureyri School of Business and Science 脰gmundur Kn煤tsson and Holar Professor of Aquaculture and Fish Physiology Helgi Thorarensen helped to negotiate the agreement, which was spurred on by new trade agreements between Maine and Iceland forged by the Icelandic shipping company Eimskip.

At the signing ceremony, Professor Costa-Pierce said, 鈥淎t 51品茶we don鈥檛 do paper agreements. I assure you that this is a tool with teeth. We are part now of an Iceland/USA North Atlantic family that looks toward the North as our greatest opportunity. I鈥檓 committed to working with all of you to develop programs important for the next generation of global leaders in this rapidly changing region.鈥

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51品茶 the 51品茶

The 51品茶 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.