Bente Haug

Her er vår tale til Zelenska:

Your Excellencies, First Lady of Ukraine, ambassador, distinguished guests, and esteemed colleagues,

It is a great honor to address you today on behalf of UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

UiT is one of the world’s northernmost universities, located in the Arctic region, with a strong commitment to research, education, and innovation. Our university is unique in its geographical reach, with campuses and study programs spread across Northern Norway, from Mo i Rana in the south to Kirkenes in the east.

This broad presence allows us to engage deeply with the communities of the Arctic and contribute to regional development while maintaining a global outlook. Our location and mission make us a leading force in addressing critical issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

At UiT, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration to address global challenges. Our ambition is to foster partnerships that transcend borders, bringing together institutions, researchers, and students to create meaningful impact. We are particularly committed to supporting Ukraine during these challenging times by strengthening academic ties and promoting shared knowledge. Our commitment to supporting Ukraine was further reinforced by the visit of His Excellency the Ukrainian Ambassador in June of this year. It further strengthened our relations.

Joining this network represents an important step for UiT in expanding our international engagement in general and our engagement with Ukraine in particular. We take great interest in the inclusion of the Crimean Tatars in the program.

UiT has a special national responsibility to promote Sami studies and Indigenous studies more broadly. Our university is home to the Centre for Sami Studies, which is dedicated to advancing research, education, and awareness of Indigenous issues.

We see potential for collaboration in this area, as we share a commitment to preserving and promoting the rights, cultures, and knowledge of Indigenous peoples.

UiT stands in solidarity with Ukraine and is committed to supporting Ukrainian students, researchers, and institutions. 

After the outbreak of the full-scale war, UiT acted swiftly to implement emergency measures to support students and researchers affected by the war. The University Board allocated NOK 10 million to this effort, enabling us during 2022-23 to hire Ukrainian guest researchers. These researchers have played a vital role in laying the foundation for several Ukraine-related academic projects in collaboration with Ukrainian partners.

Projects span key fields such as health, law, language, natural and social sciences, reflecting our commitment to fostering meaningful academic cooperation and addressing pressing global challenges.

UiT is currently considering initiating a collaboration with Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, in Kyiv within health and medicine.

Your Excellency, we deeply admire your dedication, strength and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s people and future.

UiT is honored to be part of this important dialogue and to have the opportunity to join this coalition. We are confident that our collaboration will be of mutual benefit, fostering shared knowledge, innovation, and progress.