The Buddy Programme at Umeå University offers social activities for international students and is a much-appreciated feature during the study period. The students get to know Umeå, the Swedish culture and make friends for life. Despite the prevailing pandemic, to cancel was never an option, but rather adjust.
Students in the Buddy Programme whitewater-rafting in Vindelälven.
ImageEmma Ekström"The programme has been active throughout the autumn, in various forms. The activities have been adapted to current restrictions", says Emma Ekström, buddy coordinator at Umeå University.
With a low spread of COVID-19 in Umeå during the summer and early autumn, the students were initially able to meet physically in small groups and with social distancing. Now at the end of the autumn, the focus has been on digital meetings.
“We have created smaller groups than the ones we usually have. The activities have also, naturally, become more focused to these groups instead of the Buddy programme as a whole. Previously, there were activities where everyone who participated in the Buddy programme gathered, several hundred students. Now the focus has moved to just see each other in the various buddy groups instead, where both international and Swedih students are included,” says Emma Ekström.
Some of the first activities carried out in the autumn were Campus Race and City Challenge. These are activities where students can learn to find their way on campus and in the city. The activities were spread over several days and each group had a specific date and time for their activity, to avoid crowds.
Emma, buddy coordinator, hiking with a buddy group autumn 2020
ImageEmma EkströmThe Buddy coordinator Emma has chosen to focus more on outdoor activities and to offer the same activity on several different occasions, so that those who wanted to could participate, but in smaller groups.
“We have fantastic nature and much is very close here in Umeå. I personally love hiking so we decided to arranged a hike to Hamptjärnsstugan, a small cottage just outside of Umeå, a very appreciated event ”, says Emma.
The various leaders of the buddy groups have in turn come up with their own activities for their group. Some students picked lingonberries.
“Picking lingonberries is amazing. It makes a lot of fun. In Germany we only have these fields with blueberries and strawberries, but they are planted there before so it’s not picking in the forest” says Elisa Thiemann, exchange student in Sustainable Economics, enthusiastically.
Elisa Thiemann, far to the left, out picking lingonberries with her buddy group.
ImagePetra KäckOther popular activities carried out are Aurora hunting, barbeque by Nydala lake, plogging (collect/pick up garbage while running) and different food activities. There have been many different hikes and outdoor sports in the groups as well. Brännboll, which can be compared a bit to English rounders, and can be described as Umeå's national sport, is of course one of them.
In November, the spread of COVID-19 increased throughout Sweden, so also in Umeå and tougher restrictions came in place. The buddy programme activities have since been changed completely to digital ones. For example, there have been different quizzes.
Emma says that many students have expressed gratitude that the Buddy Programme is still active, as it gives them a chance to meet other students, both Swedish and from other countries - in a safe way. The students like Umeå, the nature and have a very good impression of the people here. It feels very good to be able to offer them this opportunity, despite the prevailing circumstances, Emma Ekström concludes.
Text: Jessica Bergström Grahn