UNE joins two Icelandic colleges in offering new ‘ocean food systems’ degree

Courtesy / University of New England University of New England President James Herbert announced that UNE has signed an agreement with two Icelandic schools about collaborating on a new degree program in ocean food systems. UNE's professional science master's program in ocean food systems is currently accepting applications for its first cohort, which will enroll in the summer of 2019.

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By Staff

The University of New England has signed an agreement with two Icelandic schools about collaborating on a new degree program in ocean food systems.

The university, which has campuses in Portland and Biddeford, said it signed the agreement with University of Akureyri and Holar University College at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The agreement outlines how UNE’s new master's program in ocean food systems will align and collaborate with the Icelandic schools' programs in sustainable production and use of marine bio-resources.

“UNE, the University of Akureyri and Holar University College are already working toward the shared goal of educating the next generation of leaders in sustainability, and I am incredibly excited to work even more closely with these institutions to give our students a global educational experience,” UNE President James Herbert said in a news release.

UNE’s master’s degree program in ocean food systems is the inaugural program of UNE NORTH – The Institute for North Atlantic Studies. Students will examine the entire value chain of ocean foods in fisheries and aquaculture and their interactions with marine businesses, governance, law, seafood trade and production, management and policy.

The program’s goal is to train the next generation of sustainability-minded leaders who will pioneer the sustainable development of North Atlantic/Arctic “farm to fork” and “port to plate” ocean food systems.

International in scope

“This new agreement between UNE and Iceland’s University of Akureyri and Holar University College creates a one-of-a-kind international transdisciplinary master’s program in ocean food systems,” says Barry Costa-Pierce, executive director of UNE NORTH. “After receiving this degree, our students will be prepared to not only be internationally capable employees but also entrepreneurs who can compete on a global stage.”

This is the second agreement between UNE and the two Icelandic institutions.

In 2016, UNE and the University of Akureyri and Holar University College signed an agreement to develop undergraduate exchange and travel courses. That agreement has allowed several UNE students to spend a semester in Akureyri, immersing themselves in Northern Iceland’s unique culture and developing crucial global competency skills.

The new agreement allows students in UNE’s master’s program in ocean food systems to work directly with Icelandic faculty, build international teams with students enrolled in counterpart programs and develop the global competencies needed to be leaders in sustainable food systems.

In addition, UNE students will travel to Iceland to develop a deeper understanding of the common issues facing Maine and Iceland’s fishing and aquaculture industries. They also will use global classroom technology to engage in lectures and classes at Akureyri and Holar. Icelandic students will visit Maine and engage with UNE faculty in a similar manner.

The Henry L. & Grace Doherty Foundation committing $400,000 to support students enrolled in the program’s first three cohorts.

“With the generous support of the Henry L. & Grace Doherty Foundation, UNE will be able to jump start the financial support of the best students from throughout the USA who will be trained in all aspects of modern seafood systems and be able to form life-long friendships and partnerships with Icelandic students and scholars,” said Costa-Pierce.

UNE’s professional science master’s program in ocean food systems is currently accepting applications for its first cohort, which will enroll in the summer of 2019.