The UWI and Norway’s University of Bergen (UiB) have signed an agreement committing the two universities to advancing research and action on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The partnership, formalised on November 13, focuses on SDGs 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).
The signing ceremony aboard Norwegian training vessel Statsraad Lehmkuhl, docked at Jamaica’s Port Royal, was among the highlights of a welcome reception hosted by Norwegian Ambassador Beate Stiro, for the crew of the One Ocean Expedition. Beginning in August of 2021, the One Ocean Expedition carried out a 55,000-mile world voyage, organised by UiB, and recognised as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The floating academy comprises students, teaching and research faculty, as well as representatives of scientific and development institutions.
Its Jamaica port stop is the product of an almost two-year planning event, and culmination of conversations between The UWI and UiB on the framework of the Global University Consortium on SDG-13.
Commenting on the collaboration with the University of Bergen, UWI’s Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global Affairs Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy stated, “The UWI is very proud of its partnership with the University of Bergen. Our strategic alliance, as lead institutions for SDG 13 and SDG 14, is already creating opportunities for increased teaching and research collaborations for faculty and students, new discoveries and research applications in marine science and global advocacy on the challenges faced by Caribbean islands that are on the frontline of the climate crisis.”
Signatory on behalf of UiB, Professor Kerim Nisancioglu said that, “by joining forces, the two universities will solidify our joint leadership in climate and ocean science, and further strengthen our efforts to fulfil the goals set by the UN Agenda 2030.”
Initiatives on the horizon for the two universities include creating a new multidisciplinary Caribbean research programme on ocean science and climate action; and strengthening linkages for North-South and South-South research advocacy and partnerships between Norway, the Caribbean and the South Pacific to advance ocean science, climate action, science diplomacy and the global policy impact agenda. The work programme involves exploring the creation of a network of future ocean leaders through a unique UWI-UiB Graduate Research Trainee Programme.
The development of the relationship between UWI and UiB began in 2018 through their International Association of Universities membership. The two have jointly hosted high-level political forums on sustainable development as well as a range of reciprocal faculty seminars.
The One Ocean Expedition includes two postgraduate researchers from The UWI Mona Campus—Chauntelle Green from the Department of Life Sciences and Deron Maitland from the Department of Physics. From September to October 2021, they were enrolled in the One Ocean Field Course webinar series, coordinated by UiB, which also featured faculty experts Professor Judith Gobin and Dr Michael Burn from The UWI’s St Augustine and Mona campuses as facilitators.
On Tuesday, November 16, UWI Mona hosted 33 participants from the ship for a tour of the campus’ Port Royal Marine Lab, followed by a Knowledge Exchange Forum hosted by the Faculty of Science and Technology.
