To celebrate the successful completion of an eventful jubilee year and the “For a Better World” fundraising campaign, Lund University organised a kick-off for the future which took place on Sunday 28 January. The day included an official ceremony at Skissernas Museum – Museum of Artistic Process and Public Art, where the founders of the Lund University Scholarship Fund presented the foundation as a gift to the University. Donors, students and friends of the University were in attendance.
Vice-chancellor Torbjörn von Schantz had the honour of accepting the generous gift. In his thank you speech, he emphasised the foundation’s significance to the University. When Sweden introduced tuition fees for students from outside the EEA, scholarships became the only way for those without financial resources to enter Swedish higher education.
“These scholarships have allowed numerous young talented students to find their way into higher education in Sweden, and Lund specifically. The interaction across national borders, continents and cultural expressions changes the conditions for the future – for the young people who receive scholarships and thereby have the opportunity to study in Lund, but also for our Swedish students who gain an enriching study environment through the experiences and perspectives provided by scholarship students.”
Torbjörn von Schantz further argues that young people, who get to experience other cultures for themselves, will be able to contribute to a future based on a deeper understanding of cultural differences and knowledge that there is much more that unites us than divides us.
“They also learn that academic environments all over the world share a very special culture – an academic culture of truth-seeking and analytical drive that overcomes cultural differences. The Scholarship Fund will enable this for young people, not only today, but also in the far future.”
The foundation has so far brought in more than SEK 15 million, to be used for scholarships for talented students. The initiator of the foundation is Rolf Abdon, founder of the grain company, Finax, also participated in the ceremony.
Although the ceremony at Skissernas was only for invited guests, the rest of the day was certainly public and open to all. For example, many people took the opportunity to attend the jubilee concert in Lund Cathedral, participate in the kick-off ceremony in the auditorium of the main University building, or enjoy the dinner, dancing and other festivities that took place at the Academic Society.
The Lund University Scholarship Fund (LUSS) was established on 18 March 2014, for the purpose of awarding scholarships to promote education and research at Lund University. In addition, LUSS shall assist the University in its efforts to attract the most talented students, from Sweden but also other countries. The vision is that the University, through LUSS, will maintain and reinforce its strong position as a leading international higher education institution. The returns from the foundation create a significant scholarship base for future generations of students.
Even after the transfer to the University, the foundation will continue to accept further donations, and offer the opportunity to become a member of the 350 Club. Club members are invited to attend research symposia and a number of other forums throughout the year. Every autumn, the members are also invited to the annual scholarship ceremony.
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