our background

With the help of Eimskip in Portland, the New England Ocean Cluster (NEOC), and the Maine North Atlantic Development Office (MENADO), Maine has developed new and expanded trade, educational, and cultural relationships with several countries in the North Atlantic Region (i.e., Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Atlantic Canada).

Because of its proximity to the North Atlantic and Arctic countries, as well as its ports in Portland, Eastport, and Searsport, Maine is poised to become an international trade hub in the Northeast U.S. Maine’s research community is at the forefront of helping the world understand the dramatic environmental shifts coming to our state and the world due to climate change and sea level rise.

The University of Southern Maine (USM), along with the entire University of Maine System, has a long history of working with communities in response to the economic, health, and social needs of Maine’s citizens, businesses, industries, and communities. An important contribution USM makes to our state’s competitive advantage in the North Atlantic Region is through graduating students that:

• Have a broader understanding of the world beyond their immediate environment
• Recognize and appreciate a broad range of perspectives
• Communicate effectively with people of varying nationalities, and ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds
• Have skills that increase their employability in the global marketplace.