Goals - Strengthen northern institutions by sharing resources, facilities, and expertise through thematically focussed networks of traditional and/or discipline-based knowledge experts.
- Enhance the roles of northern higher education institutions’ as creators, holders, and communicators of knowledge about northern issues and regions.
- Implement the program so that it reflects UArctic’s principles and values, including the key role of indigenous peoples for the development of the north.
Content - UArctic Thematic Networks are independent and thematically focused networks of experts in specific areas of northern relevance.
- A Thematic Network should focus its activities on one or several of the following: research cooperation, knowledge sharing, curriculum development, joint education programs in a specific field, or form the umbrella for UArctic participants in international workgroups.
- Thematic Networks operate independently, with only a minimal set of required reporting and other formal linkages to UArctic.
- Thematic Networks may form their own individual operation and organisation guidelines, unique to each Thematic Network.
- Thematic Networks shall serve as a gateway to expertise for other UArctic programs as needed.
EstablishmentSee the Guidelines in the 'related documents'.
For further questions, please contact coordinator Kirsi Latola, kirsi.latola (at) uarctic.org.
Membership- The lead and host of the Network has to be from UArctic member institutions.
- Thematic Networks consist of individual experts from at least three UArctic member institutions, including the lead.
- A Thematic Network shall when possible have membership from all three major northern regions (North America, northern Europe, and Russia).
- A Thematic Network may choose to also involve members from non-UArctic member institutions, but representatives from UArctic member institutions shall have majority in any internal decision-making structure
Operation- A Thematic Network is guided by UArctic values, goals, governance documents, and reporting procedures and it must adhere to these in all its operations.
- A Thematic Network chooses its own way of organisation and membership and may establish its own operational guidelines.
- A Thematic Network reports on members, organisation, and operation to UArctic annually as a program activity of UArctic.
- The planning and reporting is coordinated by the Thematic Networks Strategic Area Chair who represents the Program on Ma-Mawi and Toyon.
- A Thematic Network shall use UArctic identity in its work, and can use the UArctic identity when submitting funding proposals, for publicity etc, following normal UArctic procedures.
- After discussion in Pomot, the Director may formally close inactive or active networks when annual reports are missing or the network is judged to not adhere to UArctic values, goals or operational procedures. This decision may be brought to the Council if disputed.
Thematic Networks OfficeThule Institute, University of Oulu, P.O.Box 7300, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland
Kirsi Latola, Coordinator, Tel: +358-40-0274056, Email:
kirsi.latola@uarctic.orgKari Laine, Chair, Email:
thematic.networks@uarctic.org