In 1981, the vice-chancellors of Umeå University and the University of Würzburg in Germany signed an agreement which later led to large-scale student exchange agreements with several universities across the world. The agreement was preceded by a joint plan by two former student buddies who had later become professors of ecology at the two universities, and who had at that point decided to visit one another with their respective students. Later on, the exchange also started incorporating language students, which led to the first exchange agreement at Umeå University. To begin with, one Swedish student was granted a full-year scholarship to Würzburg, and in return, we received an incoming student to Umeå.
Dieter Müller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
Ten years later, the exchange programme could cater for two scholarship holders in either direction and also encompassed other exchange agreements, for instance with the University of Lampeter in Wales. Nevertheless, the exchange experience was limited to a very small number of students.
Personally, I first came to Umeå in 1991 through the University's exchange agreement with the University of Würzburg and remember particularly what an excellent reception they gave my group of around 15 exchange students from Germany and Vaasa in Finland.
When Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, and the ERASMUS programme was developed, this led to a drastic increase in the number of exchange students to Umeå. The number of international students that study at Umeå University each year now amounts to over 2,000 when also including non-European students supported by other scholarship programmes and what we call freemovers who organise and pay for their own studies abroad.
And international students have really made their mark on Umeå University and the town over the years. German students still represent the biggest group, but the number of students from France and Spain have also risen steadily. Back in the 1990s, I was expected to conduct my studies in Swedish. Whereas now there is an extensive selection of courses and study programmes in English on offer that attracts students. Even Brexit may actually lead to an increased interest in studying in Sweden.
Beside gaining international experience for the individual exchange student, their presence here also contributes to internationalisation at home. In other words, Swedish students who choose not to study abroad also gain international perspectives and experiences through their international peers.
We know that many international students really enjoy their stay in Umeå. International surveys of student satisfaction among exchange students constantly place Umeå in the top, and students testify in other contexts too of their enthusiasm for the Swedish "fika" culture, the nature, the people, IKSU and not least, the University. Exchange studies have also proven to be an excellent way to recruit doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and assistant professors. At present, several professors at Umeå University had their first encounter with Umeå through their exchange studies here. In that way, international students should not only be seen as good ambassadors of Umeå University, but a good exchange experience may also lead to them returning to Umeå as teachers or researchers.
I am fully aware that international students can sometimes be challenging, not least when study habits and prior knowledge does not coincide with the expectations. But I am still convinced that the pros outweigh any potential cons. Umeå University needs to train its students to cope in a globalised world where international experiences are key. University studies hopefully also contributes to students taking a stand against racism and xenophobia by teaching students that they can work with others irrespective of their origin and other imaginary boundaries.
To conclude, I would also like to commend the successful work that the International Office has done in welcoming and supporting international students and providing them with a social network in Umeå. Innovations such as the Buddy Programme and other activities have really added to the great reputation of Umeå University across the world over the years, and this is something we otherwise only achieve through successful international research.