Traineeship Stories: Working with UArctic in the Capital of Lapland
In September 2021, I started working as a trainee for the UArctic International Secretariat in Rovaniemi, Finland. I will be in the so-called Arctic Capital and Finnish Lapland’s main city until June 2022. Reindeers in the middle of the streets, endless treelines, frozen rivers, the sweet Finnish passive-aggressiveness and, of course, Santa Claus are just some of the elements that make this city…charming, to say the least. Paraphrasing the words of Italy’s former PM, the food is not great, but the seasonal sweet treats are serious bangers.
What is UArctic?
The University of the Arctic, UArctic abbreviated, is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North. UArctic builds and strengthens collective resources and collaborative infrastructure that enables member institutions to better serve their constituents and their regions. The main goals of the organization are to enhance human capacity in the North, promote viable communities and sustainable economies, and forge global partnerships. UArctic can be considered a child of the Arctic Council and is in line with the Council’s values and participative leadership formats.
My roles and tasks within the Secretariat have been and are varied. This permits me to gain valuable assets, namely multitasking and organizational skills. The work of UArctic is incredibly interesting and significant and has allowed me to discover events, initiatives and institutions all over the Arctic that I had never heard of. With its Thematic Networks (TNs), scholars and researchers all around the world are connected in a solid web of knowledge exchange and cooperation.
With Shared Voices
There is something, however, that I have enjoyed contributing to the most: the 2022 issue of the annual UArctic magazine Shared Voices. The name of the magazine comes from the organization’s motto: “With shared voices.” Under the supervision of Hannele Palviainen, the managing editor of the magazine, I have had the chance to work hands-on during the whole process of the magazine. Under Hannele’s guidance, I was able to be creative with the content, I undertook interviews and edited articles. I must say that these tasks were facilitated by my previous experience with the Student Paper, so I thank Stúdentablaðið for that.
We are currently in the rush time for Shared Voices, as the plan is to release the 2022 issue this May. Exciting content is ahead, including an interview with a renowned Icelandic actor and filmmaker. Can you guess who that is? (hint: Katla).
Francesca to the left, Hannele to the right.
Photo: Pirkko Pulkkanen
Reap What You Sow
I am looking forward to partaking in the printing, publication and distribution process as well and we will make sure to send enough copies to the University of Iceland. The Shared Voices magazine will also be available online on Issuu and on the UArctic website. I couldn’t have been part of this exciting project without the outstanding support from Hannele and continuous encouragement. I am very happy about what we have been able to achieve so far and I hope the readers will enjoy the magazine as much as I liked working on it.
All in all, the whole experience in Rovaniemi has been characterized by highs and lows. The lack of social and cultural life due to the COVID-19 restrictions has certainly influenced my experience and it hasn’t always been easy. On the other hand, so far it has been a great opportunity to grow professionally and personally. With the easing of the restrictions, I have met wonderful people and the cultural events are on the go too. I was able to travel a lot in Finland and get used to the traditions and customs of the locals. I am grateful to the whole Secretariat staff for pushing my limits and teaching me how to work “outside the box” within what is a complex international organization such as the University of the Arctic.