The program was a Master's of West Nordic Studies, Governance, and Sustainable Management (WNS) which happened to be the only English-taught program at the University of the Faroe Islands. My bachelor's was in political science, and I had always felt attracted to environmental issues, so the scholarly transition went smoothly. The program was new both in content and structure. Rather than being restricted to only one university, WNS was a collaboration between universities in Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway. This structure truly represents the cooperative nature of the West Nordic region. One requirement of the program is to spend one semester at a partner university. Thanks in part to the north2north program, I spent a semester at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. I had a full course load and studied a range of fascinating subjects. As a bonus, Reykjavík offered plenty to see and do from the diverse and beautiful outdoors to the bustling city life.

Living in the Faroe Islands is to be surrounded by constant beauty and a rich culture. In Michigan I could spend time in lush forests or the dunes on the coast of Lake Michigan, in Miami I could lounge under a palm tree at South Beach, but nothing prepared me for the grandeur of living tucked away in magnificent fjords. The air and water are crisp and fresh, and the view is great. Torshavn is only a fraction of the size of the cities I have lived in, which offers a comforting sense of safety and community. It is a fast-growing city with new attractions coming every year.

The West Nordic region is a hotbed of activity with sustainable initiatives and international cooperation, and the WNS program will educate you and involve you with industry and government as a transdisciplinary approach is a cornerstone of the program. I highly recommend checking out this Master's program and studying in this wonderful region. Cheers!

 

Originally published in the UArctic Shared Voices Magazine 2017