LU’s first-ever university-wide Alumni Homecoming Weekend was held in October as part of the 350th anniversary celebrations. Two hundred alumni returned to pick and choose from a packed programme that included Peder Winstrup, MAX IV, a gala dinner at the Grand Hotel, nation pubs, speed dating and visits to their former departments.
The “home” theme featured prominently during the Homecoming Weekend – so, of course, alumni were treated to home-baked cakes!
“I have met so many wonderful people during my studies here and I probably won’t be able to make it to the University’s 400th anniversary”, says Felipe Polina from Mexico at the breakfast prior to the opening ceremony in the main auditorium.
The Homecoming Weekend was an exclusive event for which External Relations organised the central programme while the departments and faculties arranged activities and meetings for their alumni. The event is a part of LU’s efforts to create closer contacts with its former students.
The alumni came from far and wide and around half were international alumni, mostly from Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Certain guests had travelled a long way from countries such as the USA, India, Bangladesh and Hong Kong. In many countries where students pay for their own education, alumni activities are highly developed and it is natural to maintain contact with your university for the rest of your life. There is a culture of revisiting the institution and giving back in different ways.
 “I think the reason so many of our international students chose to come to the Homecoming Weekend is that the department clearly becomes these students’ home while they are in Sweden. Many of them have also invested a lot in their own education”, says Anna Burstedt, who coordinated the HOME event at the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences at the LUX complex.
Many of the alumni were there for the sake of nostalgia, to talk about memories with old coursemates and experience the University and Lund again. Others had returned to do some networking and catch up with what’s happening at the University. That particular weekend also saw the opening of the Ravensbrück Archive at the Lund University Library and the unveiling of Charlotte Gyllenhammar’s new work of art, Meteorite, which was commissioned for LU’s 350th anniversary.
Sven Andersson from Trelleborg, who had not travelled that far, had also attended the previous anniversary. He had come to visit MAX IV. His time in Lund means a lot to him.
 Sven Andersson from Trelleborg was particularly interested in MAX IV.
“The world opened up. You got to be independent and meet people from different backgrounds.”
On the question of what the students had taken from the Lund University experience, many of them mentioned critical thinking, an ability to analyse and networks.
“I came away with long-time friends”, replied Norin Mesbahn, a human rights alumni, who was there with a friend she met on her very first day in Lund – they both ended up at the Tåget youth hostel. They have been best friends ever since.
“There is something for everyone in the Homecoming programme, so you can create your own programme for the weekend”, says Kirsten Clarberg, who was one of the staff members helping at the Homecoming Weekend. She is also an alumna who stayed in Lund.
The alumni could flit between events, attend interesting research lectures in their respective fields, see student cabaret shows, visit MAX IV, get inspiration and tips from listening to other alumni, go on guided tours of Lund and the city’s museums and much more. At the centre of all the activities was an alumni hub at the Academic Society, where guests could drop in for a break and a cup of coffee.
On the Saturday, the Department of Cultural Sciences invited their alumni to an afternoon on the theme of HOME. The department offered seven kinds of home-baked cakes, and researchers presented research on different aspects of the home theme.
“We are a large department covering many subjects, but the HOME theme was something everyone could relate to and talk about. We wanted to create opportunities in the labour market for our students through different types of networking during the afternoon. Perhaps we will establish contacts for new placements for our existing students”, says Anna Burstedt, study adviser and food researcher at the department.
“The students who study fashion science with us go on to find fantastic career paths. This gives us the chance to hear about the experiences of alumni after their studies. This also benefits researchers and lecturers”, says Philip Warkander, senior lecturer in fashion science and one of the moderators for the home theme.
Text: Gisela Lindberg
Photo: Kennet Ruona |
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