(Original Swedish post)

A university like ours buzzes with activity nearly every day of the year. It can be fun to have a look at our events page now and then to see everything that’s going on – see http:// www.kalendarium.uu.se

On Thursday the University held its annual Open Day – an event designed to inspire upper secondary school pupils and others who are curious about our educational programmes. In the morning, the nearly 950 visitors had a chance to meet researchers, study advisers and students from various degree programmes in the University Main Building. The afternoon continued with visits to departments and student associations. I hope I will be able to welcome some of them to Uppsala University as new students this autumn.

Uppsala University teaches more than 55 language subjects. Language studies also mean students learn about literature, history, society and culture. On Friday we had a visit from the Irish Minister for Culture and the Ambassador of Ireland to Sweden. Every year they present scholarships to students studying Celtic languages at Uppsala University. After the scholarship award ceremony, the meeting continued and included discussions of Ireland’s role after Brexit.

On Saturday the sun shone from a blue sky. The University and the city together welcomed the Swedish bandy finals back to Uppsala. With temperatures a degree or two below zero, the conditions for a bandy festival were perfect. For the second year in a row, Uppsala University had the privilege of working with Mattias ‘Bissen’ Larsson to arrange a Bissen Brainwalk for the benefit of brain research. ‘Bissen’ suffered a stroke in mid-life and received treatment and help at Uppsala University Hospital. As part of his rehabilitation, he started the ‘Bissen Brainwalk’. He has raised more than SEK 5 million through this charitable event. Before we set off on the walk, participants had a chance to put questions to brain researchers from the Department of Neuroscience. There was a great deal of interest. More than 600 people then walked to Studenternas arena, led by Kruthornen student orchestra, to watch the women’s final between Skutskär and AIK. I also watched the men’s final a little later.

This week started with a meeting of the Council of the University of Tartu. Uppsala University and the University of Tartu share a long history together and it feels pleasing to continue this tradition. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor took care of the Management Council meeting back in Uppsala.

Now I look forward to another week full of inspiring meetings. On Wednesday we will meet the Friends of Uppsala University. Together with our researchers we will talk about what’s going on at the University, and then we will give the Friends a guided tour of the Segerstedt Building. On Thursday I have a meeting with the Göran Gustavsson Foundation. They contribute in many ways to the University’s development and I am very pleased that they are coming to visit.

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