The High North Dialogue Academy 2025 is now open for applications!
The HND Academy is a one-week seminar for young ambitious future leaders with a particular interest in Arctic societies.
“HND Academy 2025: New realities” will take place in Bodø, Norway, between March 24th– 28th
Application deadline: February 3rd 2025.
About
The HND Academy is organised by the High North Center for Business and Governance (HNC) as part of our yearly conference, High North Dialogue (HND). One of our main priorities for the conference to invite young people from different corners of the world to learn about the High North and participate in the discussions about contemporary and future issues in the region.
Participation at the HND conference (March 26th-27th) is an important part of the HND Academy, but the participants will also have a dense program consisting of lectures, company visits and social activities throughout the week. Our goal is to create a learning platform to share knowledge and facilitate network for young ambitious people who share the interest of societal development in the High North.
We invite students, researchers and young professionals of all sectors in the age of 18 to 40, with a demonstrated interest in the Arctic, to apply for the HNC Academy 2025.
Below you can read the tentative program for the High North Dialogue Academy 2025:
Scenario planning
The students will be schooled in the methodology of Scenario Planning, a strategic tool used to foresee future changes. This is a widely used method in many sectors such as security politics and energy and has been a taught subject at Nord University for many years. The Academy is an excellent opportunity to learn Scenario planning from some of the leading experts in Norway in this field.
Scenario workshop
Strange New World. The future seems more interesting (and frightening) than ever, not least in the Arctic. Brace yourself for it! And get a handle on it by learning more about scenarios.
This workshop will be led by Jan Dietz, a foresight specialist and an experienced scenario practitioner. He is an associate adviser and lecturer at the HNC.
The Academy participants will be divided into groups and will present their scenarios for the Arctic 2050 before a panel of experts on arctic issues and scenarios on the final day. The group presenting the best scenario receives a prize.
All participants will receive a diploma for their participation at the HND Academy, but we do not provide study points.
Qualifications and how to apply
The HND Academy is open to people of all occupations between the age of 18 to 40 at the time of the Academy. Send us your CV and a motivation letter where you give a short description of yourself and your interest in the Arctic and Arctic societies, whether it is through studies, job, hobby, reads, future plans etc.
Also, share one or two ideas about the future in the Arctic. What do you think the Arctic will be like in 2050? You can choose the theme/sector (Energy, international cooperation, business, governance, climate etc.). We put emphasis on the creativity in these predictions when we select the candidates. The motivation letter should not surpass 200 words.
Send your CV and letter to yati.yati@nord.no within February 3rd, 2025.
Financing and funding opportunities
The full price for participating in HND Academy is 10 000 NOK, including accommodation during the week, meals, and the HND conference fee.
The HNC provides funding opportunities via grants covering the HND Academy participation fee (incl. housing, meals, and conference fees). Transportation to and from Bodø needs to be covered by the participants themselves. The amount of grants are limited and the decision on who will be given a grant is made based on the motivation letter and CV.
Contact information
Maja Wolland Blomberg
PhD candidate and Project manager of HND Academy
High North Centre for Business and Governance
maja.w.blomberg@nord.no
Dr. Yati Yati,
Advisor
High North Centre for Business and Governance
yati.yati@nord.no
Interested in learning about what some of the 2024 students have to say?
Wen Xibei, China
A two-time visitor, Wen Xibei holds master’s degrees from both China and Nord University in Bodø.
Specializing in global management and international governance, Wen found the academy to be an excellent platform for dialogue.
– It’s a very good platform for people who are interested in the Arctic, Wen remarked.
– I think it’s really a good platform for all of us.
She particularly appreciated the opportunity to gain a more comprehensive view of the region, noting how her perspective on places like Mo i Rana has evolved through her participation.
– I didn’t like it [Mo i Rana], to be honest. But now, I started to love it because I noticed the story behind it, she explained.
This transformation came through exposure to music, culture, and the real-life stories of industrial workers as well as increased knowledge about the Sámi people.
Frida Omø Leth Bak, Denmark
Frida, currently pursuing a master’s in peace and conflict transformation in Tromsø, praised the academy’s diversity.
– They’ve tried really hard to mix a lot of different nationalities, but also different backgrounds, she observed.
This variety, from politics students to reindeer experts, created a rich learning environment.
– I think it’s been very good.
The program’s blend of theoretical learning and practical experiences stood out to Frida.
– We’ve had a task of building scenarios for the Arctic, but then also a lot of visits and like actually going out and seeing, meeting people from the area, she explained.
Lily Payton, United States
Hailing from Washington D.C., Lily’s journey to Arctic studies began in Montreal and led her to a career in city innovation.
She valued the academy’s mix of perspectives, from Arctic natives to newcomers like herself.
Lily found the scenario planning exercise particularly challenging and rewarding this year.
– I think it’s really fun to push yourself, and get out of your mindset.
Lily expressed excitement about the intersection of academic perspectives and practical applications of the Arctic Congress.
– Seeing the merge of academic perspectives. The Academy has been really great!
Read on to learn more about what some of the 2023 participants have to say:
“There was something about studying the Arctic, in the Arctic, with people from and beyond the Arctic, that made for a truly inspiring experience at the HND Academy. Looking around, I was so heartened to know that people around the globe are willing to step forward and do their part for a better world”, Calvin (SG), former Graduate Research Assistant, Arctic Initiative, Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School (In the middle)
“In April 2023 I had the great chance to be among the twenty international participants to the very first High North Dialogue Academy. We not only were involved in workshops, practical activities and visits. We also took part – of course – in the conference held yearly in Bodø, High North Dialogue, and met with other experts and scholars from institutions, civil society, academia. We also had a brief face-to-face meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre. I highly recommend anyone interested in the future of the Arctic to apply for this year’s edition.” – Giulia (IT), SIOI alumna (here with Anders Oskal, Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR)
“Participation in the 2023 High North Dialogue Academy was not just an interesting add on to my professional job, but a great step towards my future goals in my career. I built a network among the participants, which I regularly use in my job, and I got to experience a region of the Arctic that holds great importance to understanding the complexities we meet in Arctic communities and societies.” Kamilla (DK), Research Assistant, Centre for Blue Governance, Aalborg University.
Participating in t
he Academy revealed to me that the Arctic’s influence transcends the 66° 34′ N latitudinal line, with opportunities and consequences reaching beyond this boundary. The Academy not only facilitated connections with brilliant individuals worldwide but also played a pivotal role in shaping me into a more discerning and analytical thinker.” Vladislav (US), Associate Financial Advisor and former student at Alaska Anchorage.
“Participating in the High North Dialogue Academy last year was the highlight of my time as a
student interested in Arctic affairs. The whole week was a great experience, between meeting young people from all over the world, being able to exchange with Arctic experts, and participating in the discussions during the conference.” – Antoine (FR), former student at Université Paris-Saclay