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Brown Station, Paradise Bay, Antarctica. Photographer: Kay Fochtmann. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
HX Expeditions and the University of Tasmania expand their world-first education program ‘Beyond Antarctica’
By Tiffany West
Briefly …
The expansion of the award-winning Beyond Antarctica program to the Arctic in 2026, will offer new pre-departure learning courses for travellers to strengthen the connections between exploration and education, and deepen our understanding of the world’s polar regions.
HX Expeditions, the world’s first and longest-running expedition cruise company, today announced plans for the expansion of its pioneering education partnership with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). Launching in 2026, the expansion will begin with new Arctic Introductory Courses featuring programs for Alaska, Arctic Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Northwest Passage, and Svalbard.
HX Expeditions is the world’s first and longest-running cruise company and has been guiding curious travellers on mindful adventures since 1896. Launching in HX’s 130th anniversary year, the Arctic rollout extends the program to Svalbard – a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole – where the company pioneered expedition cruising in 1896. The collaboration builds on the award-winning HX-UTAS Antarctica Pre-Departure Course, the world’s first university-developed program designed to educate Antarctic passengers. Building on its success, HX and UTAS will extend the concept from pole-to-pole through a series of destination-specific programs.
The Science Centre onboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen. Photographer: Espen Mills. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
Developed by leading UTAS and IMAS academics in collaboration with HX’s Chief Scientist, Dr Verena Meraldi, the courses will offer flexible, online pre-departure learning experiences that combine interactive content, live sessions, and expert insights. Additional collaborations with other universities will support the development of location-specific learning materials.
The program blends immersive learning with real-world experiences, and the online course will be able to be accessed anywhere in the world. Participants will experience an enriched journey through the wonders of the polar regions and upon completion, guests will receive an official UTAS certificate. Topics for the Arctic courses include an essential overview, an ecosystem primer, and introduction to the iconic species of the region, and issues related to responsible tourism imperatives.
HX’s Chief Scientist, Dr Verena Meraldi, said the worldwide expansion reflects HX’s ongoing commitment to connecting travel with education and positive impact. “The success of our Antarctica program showed how eager travellers are to understand the environments they explore. Expanding these learning opportunities across all HX destinations gives our guests a deeper, more meaningful connection to the world around them.”
“The success of our Antarctica program showed how eager travellers are to understand the environments they explore. Expanding these learning opportunities across all HX destinations gives our guests a deeper, more meaningful connection to the world around them.”
Camping at Damoy Point, Antarctica. Photographer: Ted Gatlin. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
Iain McNeill, Chief Operating Officer of HX, added: “This collaboration continues to transform expedition cruising. By combining exploration with structured, university-backed learning, we’re helping guests become informed ambassadors for the planet, and reaffirming HX’s leadership in mindful, science-based travel.”
The Smeerenburg glacier, Svalbard. Photographer: Yuri Choufour. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
Professor Nicole Webster, Executive Director Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), said:
“The global expansion of our partnership with HX reflects our shared commitment to education, sustainability, and science. Together with HX, we’re turning the world’s most remote destinations into living classrooms, where travellers can deepen their understanding and contribute to global sustainability awareness.”
Orne Harbour, Antarctica. Photographer: Oscar Farrera. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
With headquarters in London, HX operates a fleet of five modern ships, offering voyages to over 250 destinations across more than 30 countries. Renowned for its pole-to-pole expeditions, HX combines sustainability, science, and education to create transformative travel experiences. Pioneering in sustainability, HX was the first cruise company to eliminate heavy fuel oils, ban single-use unnecessary plastics in its operations, and launch hybrid cruise ships. The company also supports scientific research, donating over 1,900 free cruise nights to onboard scientists, and runs the HX Foundation, providing grants to community projects focused on education and marine conservation.
The MS Fram, Strongbreen, Svalbard. Photographer: Jan Hvizdal. Image courtesy HX Expeditions.
To find our more information, you can connect with HX Expeditions on their website here, or follow them on Instagram here.
Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead. This feature includes information provided by international news agencies and public relations representatives, published here with editorial oversight. You can read The Solo Traveller’s editorial policy regarding external sources here.