▁in ▁West ▁Nord ic ▁Studies ▁offered ▁joint ly ▁by ▁the ▁partner ▁univers ities . ▁The ▁programme ▁a ims ▁to ▁provide ▁specific ▁knowledge ▁of ▁the ▁Circ ump olar ▁North , ▁combined ▁with ▁ab ilities ▁to ▁manage ▁and ▁link ▁contemporary ▁issues ▁and ▁past ▁develop ments ▁on ▁orientation ▁in ▁the ▁major ▁them es ▁of ▁the ▁present ▁debate ▁on ▁soci etal ▁challeng es . ▁The ▁objective ▁is ▁to ▁increase ▁knowledge ▁of ▁the ▁common ▁issues ▁of ▁the ▁area . ▁The ▁aim ▁is ▁to ▁gradu ate ▁candidates ▁that ▁can ▁understand ▁and ▁meet ▁the ▁complicated ▁challeng es ▁of ▁coast al ▁Norway , ▁I cel and , ▁Green land ▁and ▁the ▁Far oe ▁Islands ▁( the ▁N ora ▁region ) ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Circ ump olar ▁North ▁complex ities ▁and ▁are ▁able ▁to ▁strength en ▁networking ▁in ▁the ▁area . ▁W NS ▁will ▁offer ▁a ▁compar ative ▁perspective ▁in ▁meeting ▁the ▁ur gent ▁challeng es ▁the ▁region ▁is ▁facing ▁today ▁including ▁the ▁social ▁imp lications ▁of ▁climate ▁change ▁affect ing ▁scar ce ▁populations ▁and ▁micro - e conom ies ; ▁long ▁distances ; ▁limited ▁working ▁opportun ities ; ▁gender ▁issues ▁in ▁society ▁and ▁education ; ▁thre ats ▁to ▁ind igen ous ▁culture ▁and ▁soci etal ▁security ; ▁cont ested ▁issues ▁of ▁identity ▁and ▁cultural ▁her itage ; ▁the ▁quest ▁for ▁natural ▁resources ; ▁good ▁govern ance ▁and ▁sust ain able ▁management . ▁ ▁The ▁programme ▁includes ▁studies ▁in ▁W NS ▁home ▁univers ities , ▁joint ▁int ensive ▁course ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ak ure y ri , ▁studies ▁completed ▁at