The Welcoming Games kick-start the spring semester for new students
Last week, the new semester began at Halmstad University. The new students were greeted with the annual Welcoming Games, which is organised by Halmstad Student Union.
“I think this is a cool way to interact with both the Swedish students and the other exchange students.”
Jan von der Höh, exchange student
The three-day introduction is a way for the new students to get to know each other, the University and the city. Among the participating students were several exchange students from all corners of the world. Jan von der Höh, an exchange student from Germany, is very happy to be in Sweden and to participate in the Welcoming Games:
“I’ve only been here for a few days, but I’ve already found a lot of friends. The highlight so far has been the games on the welcome day. We played dodgeball and built suits of armour out of cardboard. It was really fun! All the other activities were also fun, like a music quiz and the pub opening. I think this is a cool way to interact with both the Swedish students and the other exchange students.”

Jan von der Höh has found many friends in Halmstad.
Jan von der Höh thinks that friendship and experiences are a big part of doing an exchange semester and sees the first days in Sweden as a good start. He is very much looking forward to the semester:
“I’m really looking forward to the Lapland trip with the Student Union. I hope it will be the highlight of my five months in Sweden.”
A winning concept
The Welcoming Games is an annual event organised by the Student Union and is highly appreciated by the students. In addition to all the activities, there is a fair where students have the opportunity to meet, for example, the Student Union’s various bodies, HighFive student and various student support functions at the University.
As usual, the introduction is coordinated by the Student Union’s vice president with study social responsibility, a role filled this year by Samuel Hindgren. It has the same setup as previous years.
“The introduction is a lot of fun! The new students get to experience our traditions and what it is like to be part of student life. Most people seem excited and very happy to be here”, says Samuel Hindgren.

Samuel Hindgren is vice president with study social responsibility at the Student Union.
In this year’s Welcoming Games, students from the Nursing Programme, the Pre-School Teacher Education and the Introduction Semester participated, as well as several exchange students.
Text: Linnéa Andersson
Photo: Filippa Petersson