Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) has taken several steps forward on its Inuit Nunangat University project, which now plans to welcome its first cohort of students in 2030. ITK received a $50M donation from Mastercard Foundation to help establish key startup elements, build capacity, advance academic plans, develop courses, improve digital connectivity, and enhance community engagement. ITK’s board also recently approved a series of recommendations to guide the strategic planning and development of the university, including endorsing a Charter and Academic Framework for the university, creating a process to select the host community for the main campus, and identifying the steps to forming a University Trust. ITK is now seeking $50M from the Government of Canada in next year’s budget, with a total of $160M needed to start the university. ITK President Natan Obed said that the goal is to create an institution where students can “be grounded in Inuit society and also have a full spectrum of educational opportunities that include learning more about our society and our practices.” CBC spoke to two Inuit students studying in the south who expressed hope for future generations who will be able to attend postsecondary in the North.
