NEWS Umeå University's international students are very satisfied with studying here. This is shown, among other things, by the International Student Barometer survey, where Umeå ranks high in the following categories: living, support, and overall satisfaction. Now, the university aims to increase the number of international students even further, with a particular focus on students from the EU/Europe.
Francine Ferretti Horst and Gabriel Quintanilla Madroñal from Umeå University at the recruitment fair FIEP in Madrid 18 November 2024.
ImageBenedetta MascalchiFrancine Ferretti Horst works as a project coordinator at the International Office on a two-year project to attract more European students to Umeå University.
The initiative includes having a greater physical presence in Europe. Recently, Umeå University participated in a student recruitment fair in Madrid. Soon, the university will head to Germany for recruitment fairs in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Hamburg. Fairs are also planned in February and March in Barcelona and Milan, as well as a return visit to Madrid. Other Swedish institutions such as Stockholm University, Chalmers, Linköping University, and Jönköping University also participate in these recruitment fairs.
"The advantage of being present at a fair is meeting students face-to-face. It's also good to be visible where other institutions are. It puts Umeå University on the map in these new contexts. We try to bring an alumnus to each fair, i.e., a student who has previously studied at Umeå University," says Francine Ferretti Horst.
In Madrid in November, Gabriel Quintanilla Madroñal from Madrid participated and shared his experiences of studying in Umeå. Gabriel did an Erasmus exchange at Umeå University in 2023.
The students Francine and Gabriel met were interested in the university's programmes offered in English and were also very curious about life in Umeå:
"It's a fantastic experience to be part of the beginning of the students' journey. Going abroad to study a master's or bachelor's program is a big decision. We want to build a relationship with our prospective students and give them the support they need so that they feel they have made a well-thought-out choice when they choose Umeå University," says Francine Ferretti Horst.
Umeå University wants to support students throughout their study journey; from the first meeting with a prospective student at, for example, a fair, through the application and admission process, to when the student is on-site and studying, and even later when the student graduates and enters the job market.
"A holistic perspective is important for recruitment, retention, and intake. Therefore, the support functions we have at our university, such as general study guidance, programme guidance, student health, and support for students with disabilities, are extremely important. The importance of our buddy programme is also something that is often mentioned by our international students," says Francine Ferretti Horst.
The International Office, in consultation with the university's faculties, has identified five EU countries to focus on within the project, with Spain, Germany, and Italy being three of them. The other countries are France and the Netherlands.
"We will focus on a physical presence in these countries, but that doesn't mean we exclude other European countries when we focus on student recruitment. We also participate in digital fairs, organize our own webinars, and conduct search engine advertising campaigns focusing on all countries within the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. There are also plans for more on-site events at embassies together with other Swedish institutions," she continues.
Another part of the student recruitment initiative towards Europe is to collaborate with faculties, departments, and programmes to gather strengths around international student recruitment. In October, the International Office conducted a workshop together with the Faculty of Science and Technology to identify what efforts are currently being made at different levels and how to better collaborate to attract international students. The workshop was very appreciated. Now, a similar workshop is planned with the Faculty of Social Sciences. In the future, other faculties and units will also be contacted with a request for a similar workshop.
Recruitment fairs – autumn 2024 and spring 2025:
18/11 Madrid
30/11 Frankfurt
4/12 Berlin
6/12 Hamburg
24/2 Madrid
27/2 Barcelona
3/2 Milan
Read more about the recruitment fairs
More about Umeå University's results in the International Student Barometer
