Greenland perspectives

Carl Egede Bøggild, Head of section. PhD Ministry of Education, Research, Culture and Church

A brief history of Greenland

§  1721: The first settlement is created near present-day Nuuk §  1776: Denmark assumes a full monopoly of trade with the Greenland. §  1814: Norway lost Greenland as a result of the Treaty in Kiel §  1953: Greenland is now integrated with Denmark and has representation in

the Danish parliament §  1979: Greenland attains home rule §  1985: Greenland has fully left the EU §  2009: Greenland gains greater autonomy, self rule

2017-03-05 2

This is Greenland today

The capital Nuuk A settlement in east Greenland

2017-03-05 3

The Greenland geography

§ Population: 56.000 § >50.000 in the south-

west § > 90% Inuit

(Greenlanders) §  300 year of inter-

marrige § Official language

Greenlandic (Danish, English)

2017-03-05 4

Priority is education

Fulfillment of education

549

1085

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015

Antalgennemførte

Grønland Udland Total

§  1847: Teachers training collage established

§  1977: first highschool, today 350 annual graduates

§  Early eighties: University of Greenland

§  Greenland spend 26,1% of public expenses on education today

2017-03-05 5

Industrial and traditional knowledge of the sea

Modern fishing industry §  Major income of Greenland §  Full modern fishing fleet §  Dominant in Arctic shrimp and

halibut §  Few large companies

Traditional fisherman §  Important in “remote areas” §  Can earn 150,000 USD §  Halibut for export and fish for

local supply §  The “backbone” of the

Greenland identity §  A powerfull political lobby

2017-03-05 6 An advanced and respectful dialog

Greenland wishes

§  You collaborate with the Greenland researchers/projects

§  You make use of the full modern Greenland infrastructure

§  You involve the excellent Greenland students §  You bunker in Greenland §  You involve in the coming Greenland research hub

§  The Greenland government is the official/legal responsible for research in and around Greenland

2017-03-05 7