"Teachers let you think freely and share your own experiences"

Fabio Wolf Pierre König earned a Master's Degree in Crisis Management and Peacebuilding in 2025.

Image: David Meyers

What made you interested in applying for your degree programme and choosing Umeå University?

I actually came to Umeå for my Erasmus exchange in 2018 while studying in Würzburg, which is a partner city with strong ties to Umeå and lots of exchange opportunities. I loved the atmosphere right away. The nature surrounding the city really drew me in, and the modern campus felt welcoming. What stood out most was the way teachers treat students here. It is very much eye to eye, respectful, and open for discussion, which made me want to come back for a full master’s programme.

What are the best things about the programme and the teachers? 

The classes are really engaging and discussion based. Teachers give you space to think for yourself and bring in your own experiences, which makes everything more interesting. They are also approachable and genuinely interested in what students have to say. You feel like your voice matters here.

What are the biggest differences between studying in Sweden and your home country?

I’d say the vibe is way more relaxed here – in a good way. The structure is more flexible, and you're expected to take a lot of responsibility for your own learning. At the same time, professors are super open and easy to talk to. Back home, things tend to be more formal and top-down in the classroom.

What do you like to do in Umeå during your free time?

I spend a lot of my free time exploring nature and taking photos. Photography is something I really enjoy and the light and landscapes around Umeå are incredible all year around. I also love to cook and often invite friends over for long dinners and good conversations. Other than that, I have been travelling through the UNESCO Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve as a volunteer and now as part of my master thesis. I have spent quite a bit of time there doing interviews and learning from the people who live in the area, which has been an inspiring experience.

As part of a broader research project on Sámi reindeer herding, I’ve been interviewing herders about how they deal with the growing pressure on their grazing lands from climate change and expanding land use. It’s given me a chance to learn more about the realities they face and the knowledge they carry, and I hope the work can help bring more attention to their experiences and voices.

Fabio ran in the annual "Blodomloppet" 5K and 10K race in Umeå on 27 May 2025.

What would you like to have known before you came to Umeå?

How much the region and the surroundings have to offer. Don’t get me wrong, Umeå is a great city with a ton of cultural events, good restaurants and an active civil society, but there are actually a lot of great initiatives, people and places to visit in the region. I really like to get the whole picture and to deep dive into the culture of the country I am living in. I can only recommend doing so too.

What are your plans after graduation?  And where do you see yourself 5 years now?

After graduating, I’d like to work in crisis management or environmental governance – ideally somewhere that mixes people, policy, and nature. I like the idea of being in between worlds: translating complex ideas into stories or strategies that help people. In five years… maybe in a small international team, maybe still moving between places, maybe helping run a cool field project. Hopefully still curious, still learning, and not stuck behind a desk too much.