Caught by Umeå: the university kicks off European tour in September
NEWS
Copenhagen - Warsaw - London - Amsterdam - Paris - Barcelona - Hamburg: these cities will be receiving visits from Umeå University in September and October. Caught by Umeå aims to attract students, alumni and researchers.
On the 5th of September 2013, Caught by Umeå is kicking off a two-month tour of Europe to stimluate interest in the 2014 European Capital of Culture year. The cities it is visiting (in tour date order) are Copenhagen, Warsaw, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona and Hamburg.
"The aim is to market Umeå and the northern region. In collaboration with Umeå Municipality and Visit Sweden, who are project-managing and part-funding the tour, Umeå University is the biggest organisation involved," says Jonas Ericson, the university’s project manager for the tour.
The university wants to reach three target audiences with Caught by Umeå: prospective students, alumni (former students) and research groups in the seven cities.
"Umeå University has a successful alumni network in China, and we want to build up a similar network in Europe. We are endeavouring to get through to the students using messages about the advantages of studying in Sweden, the fact that many of Umeå University’s programmes are taught enirely in English, and they are also tuition free for all EU citizens," continues Jonas Ericson.
It is hoped that Umeå University will be seen and heard when they are in the cities. Exciting things will be happening in an inflatable mobile events building.
"We are inviting people to come to a social event offering Nordic and Samí music, food and culture, at which the likes of the Umeå School of Architecture and the Umeå Institute of Design will be giving inspirational lectures," explains Jonas Ericson.
Culture on Campus will be offering so-called Culture Trades, offering an artist from Umeå, in exchange for the city sending an artist of its own to Umeå in 2014. There is currrently a competition called Artists Caught by Umeå, in which creative artists in the fields of design, photography and film will be competing, offering their interpretations of northern Sweden. The contributions will be exhibited in the various cities, and the visitors will be able to vote.
A project group is currently working hard on getting everything together. Artists are being booked and activities planned — we are applying a logistical jigsaw puzzle to Europe,” Jonas Ericson concludes.
