The University’s new students were welcomed to the studies and the city
The autumn semester has just started at Halmstad University! The new students were welcomed with ten days of Fresher’s Week and, for the first time, a joint introduction to both their studies and Halmstad at Halmstad Theatre.
The Amphitheatre in Linehedsparken was filled with the new students during the inauguration. Also present were second- and third-year students who have been involved in Fresher’s Week, so-called ovvar.
“We are proud to be part of your journey. Good luck, and a warm welcome to us!”
Malin Hallén, Pro Vice-Chancellor
This year’s Fresher’s Week was inaugurated in a festive manner at the Amphitheatre in Linehedsparken last Friday when almost 1,000 new students gathered to take part of, among other things, speeches and presentations of various Student Union bodies and student associations.
After the inauguration, a week of activities around the city followed where the students had the chance to get to know each other and get acquainted with campus and Halmstad.
According to tradition, the Fresher’s Week ended with the regatta at Picasso Park on Saturday, where the students competed over the river Nissan in boats, that they had created themselves, and were cheered on by an enthusiastic audience.
Javier Fernández and Pablo Jiménez García were happy participants in this year’s Fresher’s Week.
“You get the chance to get to know a lot of new people”
Two of all the students who participated in this year’s Fresher’s Week, and were present at the regatta, were Javier Fernández and Pablo Jiménez García. They are both exchange students from Madrid in Spain, and for them the Fresher’s Week was a completely new experience.
“For me, it’s been a cultural shock! In Spain, we don’t have anything like this, like the dances and all the activities. But you get used to it. For me, this is perfect”, says Javier Fernández, and Pablo Jiménez García agrees:
“You get the chance to get to know many new people from many different countries. This breaks the ice. You may have come here alone and through Fresher’s Week you get to know people who are in the same situation, new students in a new city – and country”, says Pablo Jiménez García.
One of the elements of the introduction Kickstart was a conversation with current and former students at the University.
Study information and a welcome to the city
After this year’s Fresher’s Week, for the first time, an introduction awaited all new programme students and exchange students at Halmstad Theatre, which was held on Monday. During the introduction Kickstart the students were given information about what it is like to study at the University, and in the theatre’s foyer they got to meet various support functions from the University.
Kickstart gave information on everything from how to get an access card and how to best to find your way around campus, to academic rules, the difference between upper secondary and university studies and, for the international students, tips on how they can best settle in Sweden.
Among other things, the students got to listen to current and former students. Felix Driving’s tip was to do your best in your studies right from the start.
“Give one hundred percent right away! There’s no one waiting for you. It’s your own responsibility, so go full speed ahead right away”, says Felix Driving.
At the theatre, the new students were given information about their studies, and also got to listen to representatives from Halmstad Student Union and Halmstad Municipality.
The introduction was concluded with a speech by the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Malin Hallén:
“This is not only the start of an education. It is the start of the next chapter of your lives. We are proud to be part of your journey. Good luck, and a warm welcome to us!”
After the activities inside the theatre, the students could mingle in Halmstad Municipality’s lounge area outside the theatre, where they were welcomed to the city through, among other things, various activities and tips on favourite places in Halmstad. They also got to meet and talk to representatives from the city’s business sector.
The students also had the opportunity to get to know the city of Halmstad.
“It has been fun and informative”
The new students Felicia Möller, Cornelia Trinks and Foteini Kapagiannidou who will all study the programme Biomedicine – Exercise Physiology were pleased with the introduction day and the welcome.
“I think it’s been fun and informative”, says Cornelia Trinks while her new classmates agree:
“It was also educational, so that you get the hang of it. It feels impressive to see that there are so many people who are going to start studying. You can feel a little lonely when you start, but you’re not”, Felicia Möller concludes.
Three of the University’s new students are Felicia Möller, Cornelia Trinks and Foteini Kapagiannidou.
The collaboration Halmstad heart student
Several of the activities during Fresher’s Week and in the welcoming of the new students are carried out within the collaboration called Halmstad heart student, which started in 2016. It is a collaboration between Halmstad Student Union, Halmstad Municipality and Halmstad University, where the three parties work together to create a good study period for the University’s students under the slogan From student city to hometown.
Text: Thimmy Mård
Photo: Dan Bergmark
