These courses are intended to supplement the UArctic Circumpolar Studies core curriculum, and to serve as exemplars of courses developed according to the guidelines in the UArctic Læra Institute Circumpolar Studies Curriculum Development handbook.

UArctic member faculty may propose courses on any topic within the study of the Circumpolar North, whether in the arts, humanities, social sciences or natural sciences.  Proposed courses should fit within one or more of the three broad themes of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies programme:

  • Lands and environments
  • Peoples and cultures
  • Contemporary issues

Proposed courses should not, however, repeat or substantially overlap with existing courses in the UArctic Circumpolar Studies core curriculum.  They should also represent substantially new or reworked material, rather than existing courses already offered to undergraduates studying at UArctic member institutions.

Proposed courses should be designed according to the guidelines in the UArctic Læra Institute Circumpolar Studies Curriculum Development handbook.  They should also meet the UArctic academic endorsement principles:

  • Circumpolar: operating across different regions of the North
  • Inclusive: respecting multiple systems of knowledge
  • Reciprocal: promoting multidisciplinary understanding

UArctic member faculty interested to propose a course should please include the following information in their application:

  • Name, position and institution of the main proponent
  • Name(s), position(s) and institution(s) of any collaborating proponent(s)
  • Course title - brief but sufficiently descriptive
  • Course theme(s), following the tripartite thematic structure of the UArctic Circumpolar Studies programme as listed above
  • Course syllabus - a schematic outline of topics in order of study is required, but a detailed bibliography or assessment scheme is not required at this stage
  • Learning outcomes - a bulleted list will suffice at this stage
  • A brief justification for the course, detailing its relevance to the study of the Circumpolar North at undergraduate level
  • A brief explanation of how the course will meet the UArctic academic endorsement principles as listed above
  • A brief explanation of how the course will follow the guidelines of the UArctic Læra Institute Circumpolar Studies Curriculum Development handbook, particularly the curriculum design principles, which build upon the UArctic academic endorsement principles

Two proposals will be selected.  Funding of 3,500 CAD will be awarded to each proponent for developing their proposals further, in consultation with the Læra Institute.

Once further developed, the two courses will serve as UArctic Læra Institute 'exemplar courses', to be shared with UArctic member institutions via our website under a Creative Commons license CC BY-ND 4.0.  The faculty developing the selected courses will be invited to present their work at the Arctic Congress in Bodø, Norway, as part of the UArctic Læra Institute's proposed session on educational innovation for the Circumpolar North.

Proposals should please be submitted to Dr Anthony Speca, Managing Director of the UArctic Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education, at info@laerainstitute.org. 

The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2023.  Decisions will be made shortly thereafter, and selected proposals will be due by 30 April 2024.