NEWS Sunshine and a record number of exhibitors greeted Umeå University’s new students in this year’s edition of the Welcome Fair at campus Umeå. For one day, students were given the opportunity to get to know Umeå and Umeå University a bit closer.
“Our aim is for all students to really feel welcome. Many visit Umeå for the first time and several have never studied at a university before. That’s why we, at an early stage, want to show what the city has to offer and what being a student can involve,” says Maria Hammarström, project manager for the Welcome Fair.
According to Maria, unions, study programmes and buddies work hard for the reception of new students to be as successful as possible. The Welcome Fair is another way for the university to welcome its students in which external parties such as the municipality, companies and associations get a chance to show off and invite students to their activities.
“This year, we wanted to raise the bar and increased the number of exhibitors that meet the students’ expectations. Present were, for instance, exhibitors that could advice on accommodation, jobs on the side, pleasure and club activities,” says Maria Hammarström.
And the effort seems to have paid off. The fair receives high marks from this year’s most curious visitors, among many two students from the Bachelor Programme in Journalism.
“It makes you feel welcome. There were lots to see at the fair and it seems to have had something for everyone. Umeå seems to be a nice city,” says Mats Pääkkölä from Gällivare who moved here only five days ago.
“I’m going to try out loads of stuff. This seems like a nice beginning,” says Vendela Wikström from Härnösand.
A party that is always present at the Welcome Fair is the Student Health Service (Studenthälsan):
“We want to let people know that we exist and what services the students can get from us. I experienced a somewhat larger interest this year in comparison to previous years. A lot of people have asked what help we offer if they would fall ill,” says Anita Karlsson at the Student Health Service, who gave away free condoms and recipes from some of the university’s students in Dietetics this year.
To celebrate Umeå University’s 50th anniversary, all students at the Welcome Fair were offered cake. And the cake was popular – around 1,200 pieces of cake were served in just a few hours.
Also the university’s own competition “You’re in for a surprise” was appreciated and had nearly 200 participants. Ten lucky winners received a gift voucher each and one of the happy winners was Edwin Ekholm who studies at the university’s Physical Trainer Programme.
Thanks also to the beaming sun and to the sweet sound of the band Pale Honey representing Culture on Campus, the atmosphere could hardly have been better.
Text: Kristina Forsman Lindmark/Anna Lawrence.
Foto: Ulrika Bergfors Kriström.
Editor: Camilla Bergvall