New research center opened: Will strengthen knowledge about learning & education in Greenland

On Wednesday 9 April 2025, Ilisimatusarfik marked the opening of the research center 'Iluliaq - Greenland Research Center for Learning and Education', which focuses on learning and education in a Greenlandic context. The center had invited to a festive and professional afternoon in the auditorium - and guests were welcomed to a program with both official presentations and interactive activities.

Behind the center are professor and head of center Rikke Ørngreen, and associate professor and general manager Lars Demant-Poort - both from the Institute of Learning at Ilisimatusarfik.

"We are proud to have been given the opportunity to establish a center that will provide the framework for new and practical research into how we learn and teach. We look forward to future collaborations with educational institutions in Greenland. Collaborations where we explore and develop new approaches that support the learning journeys of children, young people and adults", Rikke Ørngreen said during the opening.

The event was attended by researchers, teachers, students and partners, who gained insight into the center's ambitions and research areas. The participants were also activated through dialog and reflection - e.g. with questions about what should be researched in the future from the participants' perspective, and how they would like to be involved.

Going forward, the center will work on a wide range of topics - from digital learning and language development to teacher training, well-being and capacity building. All based on Greenlandic conditions and with a focus on contributing knowledge that can be applied in practice.

"We want to create a strong, research-based foundation for the development of education in Greenland - and we hope that the center will become an important focal point for research, networking and collaboration," Lars Demant-Poort said.

The opening also marks the start of a new agenda where research in learning and education in Greenland gets its own platform - anchored locally, but with a clear focus on global knowledge exchange and collaboration.

For more information about the new research center - contact: