Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Jan 28/02) - The first batch of students in the University of the Arctic's circumpolar studies degree program are getting set to hit the books.

Margaret Imrie, director of policy and programs at Aurora College, said the first online course to be piloted, bachelor of circumpolar Studies 100, was set to begin Jan. 15, but because some course modules still needed to be written, classes won't begin until early February.

The University of the Arctic is in year 2 of a five- year plan, which will eventually see a university degree program offered to students across the Northern Hemisphere who interested in everything Northern.

"The concept of the University of the Arctic is that it is designed by Northerners for Northerners," said Imrie.

Six students from the NWT, including five Aurora College staff from all three campuses, are taking the three-credit class.

Imrie said the main emphasis of the program is to give students a regionally relevant education that focuses on the North's politics, environment, geography, and traditional knowledge as well.

"You'll have the whole concept of the North," said Imrie. "It will allow students to go to different institutions and take classes."

Karl Cox, from Fort Smith, said the very opportunity the program presents to study at campuses throughout the circumpolar world was one reason why he signed up.

Eight countries, including the program's headquarters at Finland's University of Lapland, will offer the degree program once it's fully implemented.

"It looks fairly interesting," said Cox. "There might be a chance to travel. There's been some talk of exchange work in the future."

Jake Ootes, minister of education, said what he likes about the program is that it offers a forum for Northerners to better understand themselves. "Most countries study themselves," he pointed out.