Cultural exchange, company visits and new friends at JU summer school

Around 40 international students took part in the JU Summer School at Jönköping University in June. They attended courses at the School of Engineering, visited companies and learned more about Swedish traditions.

One of the participants was Miruna Lupas from Romania. She took the course User-centered Cybersecurity and Privacy, which looks at digital user behaviour and user-centered development.

She was pleased with both her studies and the social activities at the summer school. She has also made new friends from different parts of the world. In the future, she hopes to study on the master’s programme in Cybersecurity at JU.

"I have really enjoyed my time here studying and visiting Sweden. The university here is very student-oriented, the environment is beautiful and the people are fantastic," she says.

This year's students had the choice of studying three courses, each worth 10 credits:

• Project Management and Leadership, 10 credits
• User-centered Cybersecurity and Privacy, 10 credits
• Purchasing Logistics with a Global Perspective, 10 credits

Naomi Redford, International Relations Manager at JU, was the coordinator for the Summer School and sees a positive development in the concept. The selection of courses has increased since last year, helping to strengthen JU’s international profile as the demand for shorter study abroad opportunities rise.

"JU Summer School offers both international and national students a chance to study on a more intensive and intimate academic setting, building closer connections with fellow participants, faculty and industry professionals. It’s a chance for students to immerse themselves in a new cultural setting, and to experience internationalisation at home", says Naomi.

Company visits – showcasing Swedish industry and work in the region

During JU Summer School, students also had the opportunity to visit IKEA and Husqvarna to compliment the content of their courses. It provided them with a practical taste of Swedish industry, and to explore what the Jönköping region has to offer.

The offered courses were also popular amongst Swedish nationals, with higher participant numbers than previous years. It gave all students a chance to meet peers from around the world, integrate, and discuss broadened global perspectives.

"The students were divided into smaller groups, in which we tried to mix them up as much as possible in relation to their academic backgrounds, and this proved to be a success. They have been happy, positive and curious, which feels good," says course leader Erik Bergström.

"I really liked the meatballs"

The students also got to try traditional food and drink, taste Swedish sweets and visit the picturesque towns of Gränna and Vadstena. In addition, the group celebrated Midsummer and made their own Midsummer wreath.

Anna Vinson from Florida, USA and Zoey Liebrecht from Saskatchewan, Canada, felt like they had experienced and learned a lot in a short space of time. New friends, an exchange of culture and discovering Sweden were some of the highlights. When it came to trying Swedish food and sweets, their favourites varied.

"The onion pickled herring wasn't very good, but I really liked the meatballs. I've eaten meatballs before, but these tasted a little different. The ‘delicatoboll’ was also very good," says Anna.

"I would say that the sweets were my favourite. All the different BUBS sweets were really good, except for the liquorice," says Zoey.

Naomi Redford, International Relations Manager at JU, was the coordinator for the Summer School and sees a positive development in the concept. The selection of courses has increased since last year, helping to strengthen JU’s international profile as the demand for shorter study abroad opportunities rise.

"Over the years, we have seen our Summer School grow significantly in both scope and participation. Our vision is for it to serve as a dynamic platform that not only interests both international and national students, but also strengthens existing partnerships and creates new academic collaborations", she concludes.