Image: Elin Berge
In 1999 the Buddy Programme started at Umeå University. Since then, thousands of international and domestic students, have met and made friendships for life. The Buddy Programme is a multicultural community, now 20 years later, engaging hundreds of international and domestic students every term.
20 years ago the International Office at Umeå University hired the very first coordinator to be in charge of activities in the, then called, "Mentorprogrammet", which eventually was renamed the Buddy Programme. The aim was to introduce international students to Sweden and Umeå, offer an opportunity to take part in social activities, and to explore Swedish culture and traditions.
Similar activities had previously been handled by Umeå Student Union, and was now organised by the International Office.
ImageMattias Pettersson
Helena Gradin, now Assistant Head of Division at the International Office, was the first person to be hired to coordinate the programme. At that time, around 300 international and Swedish students were involved in the programme.
One of the first tasks for Helena was to pick up the international students when they arrived in Umeå, give them their keys to their student dormitories and give them a ride there.
Every year a new coordinator is hired to be responsible for the Buddy Programme the upcoming two terms. Since then, 21 people have been responsible for the Buddy Programme. Like many of them, Helena describes it as the best job ever.
- It's like having someone say: here you have 300 new friends to hang out with for a year.
- One time we fit the entire Buddy Programme in to one student corridor… but that was REALLY crowded, Helena recalls.
The number of international students at Umeå University have grown rapidly, and so has the size of the programme. From around 300 to todays around 1200 per year.
Over the years many different activities have been organised within the Buddy Programme. Some have been so popular that they have become recurring activities, for example the trip to the Moose farm or the Beach volleyball tournament. Each Buddy Coordinator has the opportunity to make their own mark on it.
This year's Buddy Programme Coordinator, Andrew Nesbit, coordinates 14 Buddy groups and 29 buddy group leaders. In total, around 750 people are involved in the programme this autumn.
ImageMattias Pettersson
- The numbers may look intimidating if you think about coordination, says Andrew, but it's quite fun. All the group leaders and buddies are so willing to work with me.
He continues: When I started as an international student in the Buddy Programme (autumn 2016) I wasn't sure what to expect of it. Maybe meeting some new friends. I did that, and I also met my wife through the Buddy Programme which opened up a whole new chapter in my life.
Andrew is not the first, and probably not the last, who has met his best friend or partner in the Buddy Programme.
ImageElin Berge
During the weekend of 18-19 October there will be a celebration of the 20 years anniversary. Former and current participants of the Buddy Programme have been invited to take part in different activities during the weekend, such as international pub and barbeque by Nydala lake. There will also be a Swedish dinner for former Buddy Programme participants (alumni) to share memories from their time in the Buddy Programme. Several former Buddy Programme Coordinators will participate.
ImageHelin Bäckman Kartal
For the 20 year anniversary we have interviewed some of the former coordinators of the Buddy Programme. Learn how they experienced their previous job, what activities were the most popular then and what their best memories are from their time in the Buddy Programme.