Just over 100 people participated in the General Meeting, an impressive turnout, given Luleå’s remote location. The weather was kind to the organizers – a mix of sunshine, rain, and the magic of northern summer nights.
The conference opened with a welcome address by Vice-Chancellor at Luleå University of Technology, Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn. It followed by a keynote speech by Emmanuel Zenou, coordinator of UNIVERSEH.
“UNIVERSEH is a reminder that knowledge, science, and international partnerships are among the strongest tools we have to defend openness and academic freedom,” Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn said.
“Thank you all for coming to Luleå University of Technology. It was a true pleasure for us to welcome you to our university and our city. The General Meeting was overall forward-looking and added yet another important piece to what we are building together. Having the opportunity for all of us working within the UNIVERSEH alliance to meet in person, is always highly rewarding and demonstrates the strength of European collaboration. Through UNIVERSEH, we are shaping the education of the future with a focus on equality, relevance, and innovative methods. At a time when academic freedom is being challenged, international cooperation is a democratic safeguard – and one of our most important tools to defend openness and the exchange of knowledge”. Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Vice-Chancellor at Luleå University of Technology.
Camilla Sehlin, CEO of Luleå Business Association, gave a keynote highlighting the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Later in the day, Kristine Dannenberg, Head of Space Exploration and Access to Space at the Swedish National Space Agency, delivered a keynote sharing insights on Sweden’s role in the European space sector and the value of international partnerships.
Networking and Collaboration at the Core
In addition to keynote presentations, the programme featured updates from the alliance’s working groups and student council, as well as meetings for the Steering Committee and student representatives.
The conference offered ample opportunities for networking, collaboration and sharing of ideas. Through both structured sessions and informal conversations, ties between the partner universities were strengthened – with a shared commitment to shaping the future of education in Europe.
Excursion to Brändöskär
The programme also included a memorable excursion to the historic fishing village of Brändöskär in the outer Luleå archipelago. There, participants experienced the northern Swedish landscape. On the boat, the participants got to enjoy traditional Midsummer food and a music quiz in a quite unique setting. The boat also served as the venue for awarding diplomas to students who had excelled in their ambassador clubs.
Some of the participants also took the opportunity to visit the church town in Gammelstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
