The THOR Institute supports cross-cultural collaborations and programming in sustainable tourism education and development, such as the work of the Arctic Education Alliance.
The Arctic Education Alliance (AEA), launched by the U.S. State Department in 2020, is a collaboration between Greenlandic and American higher education institutions. Through a partnership involving the University of Southern Maine (Tourism & Hospitality Program), the University of Alaska – Fairbanks (Interior Alaska Campus), the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, and Campus Kujalleq (Service Management & Guide Education), the Arctic Education Alliance focuses on building and sharing educational capacity in Greenland for sustainable tourism and hospitality, as well as land and fisheries management.
Over the past few years, these cross-cultural connections have grown and evolved into interdisciplinary capacity-building efforts that continue to demonstrate the power of collaborative relationships in developing a shared vision for the future. We are grateful to our community partners, including Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness in Maine, who have guided and supported our efforts from the beginning.
The Arctic Education Alliance work will continue in its next iteration with a renewed focus on sustainable tourism and hospitality with continued collaborative efforts between higher education institutions in Greenland, Maine, and Alaska, with new pathways and possibilities involving community partners near and far. Our work is grounded in the spirit of reciprocity, respect, responsibility, sustainability and stewardship that has shaped life in the far north for thousands of years.
We strive to support projects that center local voices in sustainable tourism education and development. Some of these projects have included a co-created cookbook, “A Taste of Two Worlds,” that honors and celebrates Indigenous food traditions from Greenland and Maine. The student-led cookbook achieved global recognition at the Gourmand Awards in Saudi Arabia, winning in the following categories: Best Cooking School Cookbook in the World (1st Place); Best University Press Book in the World (1st Place); and Best Arctic Book in the World (3rd Place).
During the summer of 2024, the University of Southern Maine hosted a cohort of students from Campus Kujalleq who enrolled in The USA Travel Market & Best Practices in Sustainable Service Management. Students participated in this 8-week program to learn about the USA travel market and best practices in sustainable tourism and hospitality management with coursework, place-based excursions, and cultural and recreational activities across Maine. Students also had the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the industry by applying their knowledge and expanding their skills with job placements at luxury hotels, tour operators, outdoor recreation outfitters, and Indigenous-led organizations. This program worked to empower students to become creative problem solvers and adopt leadership roles to promote sustainable approaches.
We look forward to continuing our work together and encourage you to reach out if you are interested in collaborating in the future.
Below you will find an outline of some of the highlights of our work over the past few years.
Photo Galleries
Knowledge Exchange: Maine & Alaska – August 2022
Arctic Circle Assembly: Greenland Forum – Nuuk (August 2022), Arctic Circle Assembly – Reykjavik, Iceland (October 2022), and University of Southern Maine (October 2022)
Student Exchange to Greenland (Maine Delegation – Wabanaki partners, USM students & faculty) – April/May 2023
Knowledge Exchange (USM Land Management Delegation): Greenland – June 2023
Arctic Circle Assembly: Reykjavik – October 2023
Knowledge Exchange: Maine – August 2023
“A Taste of Two Worlds” Cookbook Award Celebration – University of Southern Maine, January 2024
Student Exchange to Maine (CAK Students) – June/July 2024
Presentations
Arctic Education Alliance – Presentation, Arctic Circle Assembly, Iceland, 2023
“A Taste of Two Worlds” Cookbook Award Celebration – University of Southern Maine, January 2024
Sustainable Tourism Development Through International Educational Collaborations – Poster, International Arctic Workshop, Massachusetts, March 2024
Sustainable Tourism Development Through International Educational Collaborations: Maine & Greenland – Presentation, NENA Conference, Maine, April 2024
Sustainable Tourism Development Through International Educational Collaborations – Poster, Arctic Congress, Norway, May 2024
The Next Steps of Sustaining Educational Partnerships: Greenland & The USA – Presentation, Arctic Circle Assembly, Iceland, October 2024
Sustainable Tourism Development Through International Educational Collaborations – 42 Degrees North Conference, Maine, November 2024
Publications & Reports
A Taste of Two Worlds: Stories & Recipes from Greenland & Maine
South Tourism Greenland Tourism Management Report
