Fresh faces from around the world begin orientation course
NEWS
Hundreds of exchange and international degree programme students swarmed the campus for the start of the four-day Orientation Course on Tuesday at the Aula Nordica concert hall. They received a warm welcome and an overview of life and studies at Umeå University.
On a picture-perfect sunny and 20 degree day on Tuesday 27 August, new international students gathered to attend the start of the introductory Orientation Course in Aula Nordica. Many were pleasantly surprised by the summer-like warmth and green pastures in Umeå. Anders Fällström, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University, formally welcomed and wished them all an enjoyable and memorable experience at Umeå University. He shared that he was once an exchange student in a new country with a strange language encouraged the new students to make the most of this new adventure.
"My hope is that this year will be one of the very best years in your life. I am quite sure, that it will be so in the long run, when you several years from now look back at your time in Sweden, but I hope that you also during this year will think that you have a marvelous time. I hope your studies will go well, that you will find your teachers, your departments, friends and the university largely to be as good as your expectations are today," said Professor Fällström.
One of the new students in attendance was Liu Fantong, an exchange student from Shandong University in China. “My hope is to make lots of friends from different countries” he said, when asked about his expectations for the upcoming academic term. He also pointed out the beautiful nature and kindness he has received so far.
The first day continued with practical information from the International Office to make their arrival as smooth as possible including: housing information, practical advice and a summary of the highly popular buddy programme for group-based social events. Later that evening, students were invited to attend and play the Swedish bat and ball game called “brännboll”.
Urte Armonaite, an exchange student from Vilnius University in Lithuania, was impressed by the “green spaces and nice housing accommodations” and is looking forward “to having a positive academic experience” during the autumn semester in Umeå.
Another spirited participant at the Orientation Course was Gyde Balk from the University of Würzburg in Germany, who impressed with her excellent Swedish language skills. “I am really impressed by the openness of people and the beautiful campus with its large and modern buildings,” she said. “The fact that Umeå is an active sporting city is fantastic and I have already started my membership at the IKSU sport and fitness centre.”
Many students from across the Atlantic will also be starting a new chapter of their lives at Umeå University, such as Tim Tercero from Western Washington University in the United States. He is looking forward to going hiking in the mountains in northern Sweden. His first impressions of Umeå have been positive so far. “I have already been downtown, which is quite nice, and have met some of the locals,” he said.
The orientation course continues over the next three days featuring presentations on a wide variety of relevant topics including: cultural differences, sports and recreation, host programme, academic resource services, health services, and information from the student unions. A social event was held every evening, giving students the chance to have fun, make new acquaintances and discover the city of Umeå.
The autumn 2013 term formally begins on Monday 2 September. A Welcome Fair for new students - both Swedish and international – will be held in the Universum building on Thursday 5 September from 10:00 to 15:00.
