Created in 2001 through an initiative of the Arctic Council, the University of the Arctic (UArctic).is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North. UArctic–HIT Training Centre (UArctic–HIT–TC) is the first UArctic Regional Centre outside the eight Arctic countries and hosted by Harbin Institute of Technology, China. UArctic–HIT–TC is open to all students, faculties, and scientists in Chinese universities and institutes who are interested in Arctic knowledge and research. UArctic–HIT–TC is officially open on February 26, 2019 in Harbin Institute of Technology.
Mission
The mission of theUArctic–HIT–TC is to “Strengthen understanding, friendship and collaborations between students and faculties of the Arctic and non-Arctic universities by providing a unique and advanced platform for cooperative educational and research opportunities.”
Goals
In the following years, UArctic–HIT–TC will become
A hub organization bridging the Arctic and Non-Arctic members of UArctic;
A platform to broaden the voice and to expend knowledge of the UArctic;
An education center with an Arctic–related education system for students and faculties in Chinese universities; and
A research network for Arctic–related research by collaborating with Arctic universities/institutes.
Activities
To respond adequately to our mission and goals, UArctic-HIT-TC will take following activities for the period 2019-2022:
A hub organization bridging the Arctic and Non-Arctic members of UArctic
The staff of the UArctic-HIT-TC will be trained to be familiar with the mission, goals, and values of the UArctic, and carry out their work under these mission, goals, and values;
To build a strong network among non-Arctic members in China；
To collect views and suggestions from UArctic members in China towards the UArctic and report them to the UArctic; and
A meeting will be organized in HIT for the UArctic leadership members and the representatives, professors, and students of non-Arctic members in China to discuss common interests and values and future collaborations.
A platform to broaden the voice and to expend knowledge of the UArctic
To give presentations to the UArctic and non UArctic member universities and institutes in China on the UArctic mission, goals, and values, and encourage the non UArctic member universities and institutes to join the UArctic; and
To build science popularization and education capability, and to publish cultural products on the Arctic to improve public knowledge and awareness towards Arctic.
An education center with an Arctic–related education system for students and faculties in Chinese universities
To provide training courses for faculties of Arctic member institutions in China;
To organize International Arctic Summer/Winter School every year to recruit students from both Arctic member and non-Arctic member universities of UArctic;
To provide a special financial support to selected Arctic indigenous students to attend the Summer/Winter School;
To provide Arctic courses to students from UArctic member institutes, especially to non-Arctic member university students; and
To merge the Arctic–related education system established under UArctic-HIT-TC with the UArctic north2north Programme.
A research network for Arctic–related research by collaborating with Arctic universities/institutes
To train students with basic research ability, measurement and analysis methods of old and emerging POPs, for example;
To organize international polar academic workshop/forum/conference annually; and
To encourage non-Arctic member institutes to participate the Thematic Network and carry out the joint projects.
