Nordic Members

At the start of 2025, the Stefansson Arctic Institute (SAI) merged with the University of Akureyri (UNAK), further strengthening Akureyri´s role as Iceland’s Centre for Arctic Issues. A central pillar of UNAK’s 2024–2030 strategy is its role as an Arctic university. Reflecting this commitment, UNAK is a founding member of the University of the Arctic, while Iceland’s Arctic Policy designates Akureyri as the nation’s hub for Arctic knowledge and a leading centre of international expertise in circumpolar affairs.

Akureyri is home to a wide range of Arctic institutions and initiatives, including the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC); the secretariats of the Arctic Council Working Groups PAME (Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment) and CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna); the Polar Law Institute; the Northern Research Forum (NRF); and the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network. Together, these organisations, alongside UNAK, form a dynamic ecosystem for Arctic monitoring, assessment, research, and policy development.

Founded in 1987, the University of Akureyri is located in the capital of North Iceland and is organised into two schools: the School of Health, Business and Science, and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The university offers master’s and PhD programmes across a broad range of disciplines and is recognised internationally for its strength in Arctic research and education. Its pioneering Master’s programme in Polar Law—the first of its kind worldwide—highlights UNAK’s unique contribution to Arctic scholarship and its growing role as a centre for innovation in higher education.

Mailing address:

University of Akureyri
Norðurslóð 2
600 Akureyri
Iceland

Visit UNAK webpage