Fellows 2023-24

Welcome to Iceland

You arrive at the time of the year when winter is coming ... and the happy Christmas season approaching.

This year, September 23rd was the day of the equinox, i.e., when daytime and night-time are of equal duration all over the planet. After that we have progressively longer night-time than daytime here in the north and we also start to experience colder weather and occasional snow storms.

In October the temperature usually ranges between 2-7 degrees Celsius. It can go below zero, especially during the night. For outdoor activities you would need a warm jumper, wind /waterproof outer shell, and good shoes.

On the official tourism website Visit Iceland you find a lot of practical information on the weather, what to wear, food, currency, safety issues etc.

Incoming fellows profile

The 2023-24 cohort includes 24 fellows from 15 countries ... in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. This year men (14) are three more than women (11). The biggest line of specialisation is the Fisheries Policy and Management lina (10), then Sustainable Aquaculture (6) Aquatic Resource Assesment and Monitoring (5), and Quality Management (4).

For individual fellows' profile see here.

This year´s  FTP staff

The GRÓ-FTP team at work  ...

from the left, Julie Ingham, Zaw Myo Win and Stefán Úlfarsson (holding the camera ha ha).

Missing in the photo is Þór Ásgeirsson and Davíð Tómas Davíðson.

More information here >

Fellowship information

General info

It is always challenging to settle into a new society. To help incoming fellows to orient themselves FTP has taken together a handbook with practical information on weather conditions, suitable clothing, accommodation, service hours, entertainment, transportation, important phone numbers … and last but not least about the fellowship’s responsibilities and benefits.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the FTP General Handbook here>

Accomodation

The GRÓ House is the Reykjavík home of the GRÓ six-month fellows (GRÓ-FTP, GRÓ-GTP & GRÓ-LRT) and houses occasionally GRÓ MS/MSc and PhD scholarship recipients and visiting guest lecturers invited by the four GRÓ Programmes. The house is located on Grensásvegur 14, close to a major shopping and recreational area with convenient access to bus routes.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the GRÓ House Handbook here>

The six-month training

The core activity of the FTP is an annual postgraduate level six-month training programme in Iceland which aims to strengthen the professional capacity and competency of FTP Fellows to actively contribute to work done in their organisations and to recognise development potential in their home countries.

Each year the course runs for six months and comprises three modules: an introductory part, a specialisation part, and an individual research project. Successful graduates receive a UNESCO GRÓ certificate of completion.

The overall framework for the 2023-24 semester presented below is a draft, intended to help general orientation. However, as the programme is by nature quite fluid and relies on cooperation of many people, institutes and companies it will need to be updated periodically.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the Overall Plan here>

Introduction module

The introductory part occupies the first 5-6 weeks of the programme and gives Fellows a holistic view of fisheries, providing them with insights into various disciplines within fisheries and their connectedness.

In this course, Fellows receive a comprehensive overview of fisheries in an international context, sharpening their understanding of fisheries in their home countries and what is needed for a fisheries sector to evolve.

The introduction consists of a series of lectures, site visits and assignments, touching upon the subject of personal and professional growth, and group dynamics.

The FTP places emphasis on environmental conservation and gender equality which are integral to sustainable fisheries and the development of the fisheries sector.

Specialisation module

On completion of the introductory part, each Fellow joins a specialist line according to their area of expertise and responsibilities at home. The lines focus on one specific area of fisheries and aims to hone each Fellow’s knowledge and experience throughout a six-week programme of lectures, assignments, and site visits. During this time, Fellows develop ideas for a final project in collaboration with their supervisors communicated through a project proposal submitted orally and in writing.

The FTP offers training in four areas of specialisation:

• Fisheries Policy and Management (University of Akureyri in the north of Iceland)
• Aquatic Resource Assessment and Monitoring (Marine and Freshwater Research Institute in Hafnarfjörður, near Reykjavík)
• Quality Management of Fish Handling and Processing (Matís, Food Science and Biotechnology Institute in Reykjavík)
• Sustainable Aquaculture (Marine and Freshwater Research Institute in Hafnarfjörður, near Reykjavík)

Research module

The programme culminates in a twelve-week individual project in which fellows work closely with a supervisor to conduct research on a pressing issue related to their work at home. The project work combines the Fellow’s experience and practical skills gained in the introductory and specialist training, along with their personal goals on an individual research topic. Project design skills are applied to develop and present a research proposal, and then research is conducted individually through close collaboration with an expert supervisor. Final projects most often involve data directly from Fellows' home countries. On completion, a research paper is submitted and published on the GRÓ-FTP website. In addition, Fellows are required to design an information poster summarising their research and present their results in an open dissemination meeting.