About UArctic Master's Endorsement

Endorsement is a process of recognition within the UArctic network that acknowledges the integrity and quality of a network activity, entitling it to the confidence of the northern cultural and educational communities being served. In the case of UArctic Master’s endorsement, this recognition extends to Master’s level studies that meet high standards of content and delivery, and that are northern relevant.

As a reflection of UArctic’s Values and Mission, the aim of UArctic Master’s endorsement is to emphasise the presence of existing joint Master’s level programmes among members in the UArctic network, and to encourage the development and delivery of new joint Master’s educational programming between members.

Currently the following programs have been granted the UArctic Graduate Studies Masters lable:

- Masters Program in Comparative Social Work

- Health and Wellbeing in the Circumpolar Area (MCH)

- Northern Tourism Programme

Developed on the basis of the Foundation Principles for a UArctic Master’s Program and on the Banff Principles on Graduate Education (both adopted by the Council of the UArctic in 2007 and 2008 respectively), these web-pages contains information and procedures regarding UArctic Master’s endorsement, and are intended to guide UArctic members with their applications for endorsement and with preparations for the development and delivery of joint Master’s programmes.

On this web-page you will find details on the goals and benefits of endorsement, a glossary of key terms used, and an acknowledgement to those who appreciatively contributed towards the development and implementation of this endorsement.

From the Endorsement Application Process web-page you will find details of the eligibility criteria for endorsement; an overview of the application process; the terms and conditions of endorsement; as well as the Master's Endorsement Application form.

Full endorsement details are also available in the UArctic Master's Endorsement Handbook.

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact:

John Eichelberger
Dean of UArctic Graduate Studies
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 Goals of Endorsement

Focusing on the structured exchange of students and faculty members, and on encouraging partnership development through the creation of joint or shared curricula and study programmes, the goals of the UArctic Master’s endorsement are to:

• Help support and build the next generation of northern researchers and other experts based on quality research focused education;
• Assist member institutions and organisations in developing joint education programmes that are circumpolar, holistic, and diverse in nature, and that draw on the combined members’ strengths to help address the unique challenges of the region;
• Provide students focusing on northern issues with pathways to degree completion, while offering them distinct learning experiences and the opportunity to interact with fellow students and educators from other regions of the Circumpolar North;
• Facilitate the development of partnerships with the region’s indigenous peoples, by engaging their perspectives and participation in education and research activities; and
• Promote UArctic Master’s level networking activities, and to attract students from around the circumpolar north and beyond.

Benefits of Endorsement

• Conveying the international significance of education in the North, endorsement serves as an indicator of quality for research focused Master’s level education; and provides a reliable, independent validation for programmes of “Northern relevance”.
• Offering smaller UArctic higher education members and their students, increased opportunity to participate in cross-border Master’s level programmes.
• Proving graduates of UArctic’s Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies and other students focusing on northern issues, with attractive and relevant Master’s level study pathways and opportunities for degree completion.
• Enhances programme quality by facilitating co-operative links between educators and researchers from UArctic member and partner institutions and organisations.
• With a joint curriculum and integrated mobility option, students are exposed to different ways of learning and knowing, international perspectives, and to different languages and cultures. Resulting in improving a student’s accessibility, employability and personal security.
• Brings added attention to programmes and partners, thus increasing the potential to attract students, and new partners.
• Places programme partners and their students in a better position to gain access to funding sources.
• Only endorsed programmes will be presented on UArctic’s Master’s Studies web-pages; with direct links provided a programme’s own web-site.
• Endorsed programmes will be promoted and featured on UArctic’s web-pages, newsletters and publications.
• Endorsed programme partners will be issued UArctic’s “Recognition of Endorsement” certificate, entitling them to use the designated “UArctic” logo in their marketing and programme materials.
• Students successfully completing an endorsed programme will receive a UArctic “Confirmation of Achievement” award.

Glossary of Key Terms

Master’s level: depending on educational system, the use of the term “Master’s” may differ, however it is generally known as consisting of higher degree studies that include a research based thesis or dissertation, and that leads to the granting of a Master’s degree (alternate terms: magister, master).

Master’s degree: although usually offered at the postgraduate level, a Master’s degree may also be offered as an undergraduate degree depending on educational system. Alternatively known as a graduate degree or postgraduate degree, in general, the structure and duration of a programme of study leading to a Master's degree may differ by country, and each may differ in the range of pathways leading to the degree. Note: for the purpose of this endorsement, a “Master’s Degree” corresponds to a one-year or two-year academic degree programme (of 60 to 120 ECTS credits), that is undertaken after at least three years of undergraduate studies.

Programme and Joint Programme: the term “programme” as used here is intended to be distinguished as a “programme of study”, in that it refers to the sequence of courses and other requirements that are the basis for earning a particular study award or title (diploma; major; certificate; degree).
 
Furthermore, particular engagements in the delivery of jointly developed educational programmes may lead to the granting of one or more awards or titles. Such programmes and degrees are usually referred to as joint programmes, joint educational programmes, joint degree programmes, joint degrees, dual or double degrees, etc. In this context, the terms “programme” and “joint programme” are used to cover all such possible contents and combinations.

Acknowledgements

The process of developing and implementing this Master’s Endorsement was chaired by Pierre-André Forest, the Lead of the UArctic Master’s Studies program. However, it is with contributions from the following individuals from UArctic member institutions, that the endorsement guidelines were settled, and implementation completed. Therefore, special thanks are due to:

From Canada:

David Hik, University of Alberta
Glenys Plunz, Northlands College
Greg Poelzer, University of Saskatchewan

From Finland:

Riitta Aikio, University of Lapland
Merja Forest, Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences
Esko Koponen, University of Helsinki
Kirsi Latola, University of Oulu
Arja Rautio, University of Oulu
Outi Snellman, University of Lapland

From Iceland:
 
Peter Weiss, University Centre of the West Fjords

From Norway:

Anatoli Bourmistrov, Bodø University College
Bjørg Evjen, University of Tromsø
Tor Gjertsen, Finnmark University College
Mona Johnson, Finnmark University College
Elise Strømseng, University Centre on Svalbard
Ola Sletvold, Finnmark University College

From Russia:

Claudia Federova, North-Eastern Federal University
Natalia V. Okhlopkova, North-Eastern Federal University

From the USA:

Ray Barnhardt, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Larry Duffy, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Hannele Zubeck, University of Alaska Anchorage