Around 400 international students from the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology were welcomed to Börsen, Gothenburg’s official representation building, by Lord Mayor Aslan Akbas. The event was organised by the City of Gothenburg in collaboration with Unimeet Gothenburg.
Shahab Muhammad Khan, Fernanda Camara, Lord Mayor Aslan Akbas, Anastasiia Bochan, and Lindsay Dry. The friends are studying the Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in Human Rights Policy and Practice at the University of Gothenburg. Photo: Alexsandra Flinck
“By investing in skills supply, we are working together to make Gothenburg a better and more attractive city to visit, live, and work in. You are important to Gothenburg, and we want you to enjoy what the city has to offer, find opportunities to stay, work, and build your life here,” says Malin Engelbrecht, head of the Trade & Industry Group at Göteborg & Co, as she welcomes the students.
Each year, a large group of international students arrives in Gothenburg to study at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg. International students are important to Gothenburg, and therefore the City of Gothenburg, in collaboration with Unimeet Gothenburg, wants to recognise them by organising a reception at Börsen.
On the 2nd and 3rd of October, the city’s Lord Mayor, Aslan Akbas, welcomed around 400 international students who had recently moved to Gothenburg to study. In his speech, Aslan spoke about the city’s history and emphasised that Gothenburg is a sustainable city, open to the world. On behalf of the city, he welcomed everyone and expressed appreciation for their decision to study in Gothenburg.
Anastasiia Bochan from Ukraine was one of the participants and she in Gothenburg to study Human Rights in Politics and Practice at the University of Gothenburg. Anastasiia shares that she has studied abroad before but has never experienced such a warm welcome and she remarked that the reception was a great opportunity for networking.
“It is unique for a city to offer such a welcome; I have never seen it before. My group mates and I think it’s a very nice initiative, and it makes us feel welcome here. When you come from another country, it can be difficult to make new friends, new contacts, and to feel at home. It’s very nice when the university and other organisations offer different types of social activities. I prefer to attend most of them to socialise and feel at home,” says Anastasiia Bochan.
César Velázquez Reyes, who is studying Architecture and planning beyond sustainability at Chalmers University of Technology, alongside the city’s Lord Mayor, Aslan Akbas. Photo: Alexsandra Flinck
César Velázquez Reyes from Mexico, who is studying Architecture and planning beyond sustainability at Chalmers University of Technology, also attended the reception. César thought that the event was a great opportunity to get to know other students and said that he was looking forward to meeting the Lord Mayor.
“I think it’s the most important event for international students so far. I want to get to know the building because I am an architect. I was very interested in the Mayor’s welcoming speech, what he was going to say, and I was also interested in the networking opportunitie. I am truly grateful to the Mayor of Gothenburg for making this event possible together with Unimeet. They are showing us that Gothenburg is the city for ideas, the city to create new futures, new present and a place to network with different professionals from other fields looking for a better future,” says César Velázquez Reyes
Unimeet Gothenburg is a collaboration between the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, and Trade & Industry Group at Göteborg & Co.
The aim of Unimeet Gothenburg is to enhance the image of the Gothenburg region as an attractive place for the universities’ international students, researchers, and internationally recruited staff to study, live, and work. This is achieved by organising activities to strengthen the connection between studies and working life, creating meeting places and networking opportunities, as well as promoting social and cultural activities.
| Wednesday 02 October 2024 |
