NEWS On 17 September 2025, Umeå University will celebrate its 60th anniversary. The occasion will be marked in a variety of ways, including in-person festivities, digital storytelling, and a public exhibition in the town square highlighting the university’s impact.
From 1 September, Rådhusesplanaden in central Umeå will feature an exhibition of portraits showcasing individuals connected to Umeå University in different ways. Each image is accompanied by a quote, collectively narrating the university’s significance to individuals, the city, the nation, and the wider world.
This theme also runs through the portraits presented via text, audio, and film, which have been shared on the university’s social media channels and are available on a dedicated anniversary page at umu.se.
The page also includes a timeline of key events in the university’s history.
You’ll also find details about the anniversary celebration taking place at Campus Umeå on 17 September 2025 – the university’s official birthday. All students and staff are warmly invited to attend the event, which will be held from 13:30 to 15:00 in Universum. The celebration will feature entertainment, refreshments, a speech by Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg, and a commemorative gift (available while supplies last).
Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor.
ImageMattias PetterssonSixty years ago, Umeå University was inaugurated, and King Carl IV Adolf placed the rector’s chain around the neck of Lars-Gunnar Larsson, the university’s first Vice-Chancellor. Since then, the university has undergone remarkable development. Today, Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest, with over 41,500 students and 4,600 staff members. It boasts successful research both nationally and internationally, a Nobel Prize, and is a highly attractive institution for study and employment.
“It is a privilege to be the Vice-Chancellor of a large and diverse university with leading international research and top-class education. My task is to ensure that Umeå University continues to be bold, open and constantly relevant. We will contribute to the development of a democratic society and a more sustainable world,” says Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg.
You are warmly welcome to take part in the celebrations of Umeå University’s anniversary year.