Lund University and the network of Universities in South Sweden – Lärosäten Syd – are pleased to invite all alumni based in Brussels to join us for an Alumni Reception on 21 May. This will be a fantastic opportunity to network with other alumni from the six universities that make up Lärosäten Syd: Lund University, Malmö University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Halmstad University and Kristianstad University.
About Lärosäten Syd Lärosäten Syd has a joint office in Brussels since August 2018, which has the objective to increase the profile of the universities at EU level, to improve the monitoring and influencing of EU policy and programmes and to build closer international partnerships. At the reception you will hear more about this unique university collaboration. Learn more about Lärosäten Syd here
The six member universities in Lärosäten Syd
Save the date for this event! The official invitation with programme details will be sent after the Easter holidays, however, the registration page is already open. A save-the-date email has been sent to all Brussels based alumni.
Interested, but haven’t received the registration link? Send an email to us on info@alumni.se.
Hello Larissa Olenicoff a.k.a The Blonde Gypsy, awarded travel blogger from the United States and LU alumna.
Can you describe yourself in three words?
Curious. Honest. Wild.
You received your master’s degree in European Studies in 2013, what have you been up to since you graduated from Lund University?
A lot. For the first couple of years, I was traveling back and forth between Europe and the United States, working with travel brands and tourism boards for my blog. After a while, I wanted to explore more places that were lesser traveled and where tourism boards were almost impossible to work with, so that’s when I started getting involved with tourism development projects funded by organizations like USAID, UNDP or the EU.
The biggest one I was lucky to be a part of was Via Dinarica, which extends from Slovenia to Albania and serves to connect the cities and rural communities in and around the Dinaric Alps. During the time spent promoting that project is when I started falling in love with the Balkan region. By 2015, I decided that in order for me to continue my passion of working with tourism in that part of the world, I had to move there. So I did.
For two years, I lived in Prishtina, Kosovo working on whatever kind of tourism-related opportunities I could get in all the neighboring countries, while maintaining a full-time position at a private university as the coordinator of its tourism center, which I helped establish.
At the end of 2017, I made the decision to move back to California, where I have lived since, and just launched a company specializing in Balkan travel from tours to trip consulting. While my base is in North America now, I am trying to spend at least 2-3 months a year in the Balkans and exploring other new, lesser-traveled destinations.
Borsh, Albania
Has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work?
Absolutely. For starters, I can officially call myself a “Master of Europe” since I received a Master of Arts in European Studies, which has helped build more credibility for my blog and brand, considering its primary focus has been European travel.
I actually could not have picked a better program or coordinators (shout out to Anamaria Dutceac Segesten and Mattias Novak) to prep me for the work I would eventually do in the tourism development sphere. Among other things, it has been very helpful when I for instance write about destinations and add the many layers of a location, such as identity and history.
Did you travel a lot as a child with your family?
I’m super lucky to have grown up taking family trips a few times a year, even if they weren’t far or exotic (like Las Vegas), the point was just to get out of the house and go on an adventure.
Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina
When did you discover that you had the travel bug and what initiated it?
When I was 15, we took a big trip to Europe, from Spain to the south of France, and that is when my fascination with the continent really began. My main goal in life was to live there, anywhere. Suffice to say, I have achieved that a handful of times by now.
What place would you not travel to again?
I would give any place a second or third chance even if I didn’t have a good experience the first time…but I would definitely be okay never going to Paris again (I can say that with confidence after six visits).
Which is your absolute top destination?
For the moment, Albania
Berat, Albania
You say that you do not only want to travel to countries, but to connect with them. What is one of the most memorable connections you have made abroad?
The ones I still have. From really great friends I made to local boat captains and bar owners, I’m lucky to have small and large networks in a lot of different countries that I can still reach out to any time I want to ask about anything from current political situations to how the weather is.
Rafting on the Neretva in Bosnia & Herzegovina
When you travel, do you always try all the local food no matter what it is?
Mostly yes, but I’m not into extreme organs. Heart, lungs, brain, etc…I would not willingly eat those, though it is very possible I unwillingly have done so due to language barriers.
You traveled around for 10 years living out of a suitcase, now you live back in California, what made you slow down?
Constantly traveling and moving around wears you down and I just finally got to a point where the last thing I wanted to think about was starting over again somewhere or even planning travels longer than a carry-on bag would last, which for me is like 3-4 weeks. I also wanted to be closer to my family.
Where are you heading next?
Back to the Balkans! I will be offering tours through North Macedonia (newly re-named) and Albania this year. I would love to get some fellow Lunders on it, so will be offering anyone who is a current/former student or faculty at Lund University 15% offany of my upcoming tours – just mention this interview.
Lundagård is not only the name of the large park surrounding the University main building and the AF-building. It is also the name of a student magazine written by and for Lund University students since the 1920’s.
The first edition, a 12-page-long magazine created by editor Gunnar Aspelin, saw daylight on 26 March 1920. A few years later, in 1924, the editoral staff was joined by their mascot, “Quatten”, a white plaster cat. A cat was considered a good representative for the new magazine: a cat is independent, has sharp claws and is not afraid to bite its master’s hand.
The white cat had been around a few years before it moved into the Lundagård editorial office. During the Lundakarneval parade in 1920, one of the parade floats was filled with white plaster cats. After the carnival, the cats went searching for a new home and moved in with Lundagård magazine four years later.
One of the original white cats from the 1920’s.
Throughout Lundagård history, alumni editors have received a white plaster cat when they leave their position.
A white dog from the Lundagård Jubilee.
On a side note, during the magazine’s 70th Jubilee in 1990, the cat was temporarily accompanied by five plaster dogs, which served as jubilee presents to previous editors and devoted fans.
This week we meet alumnus Kent Buchanan, who studied Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (class of 2011) and has many fond memories of the time he spent with his classmates. Now, he lives in South Africa and works on climate change mitigation policy and research.
Q: You have a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science from 2011. What have you been up to since your graduation?
After finishing in Lund I decided to settle in South Africa, my place of birth. I had a brief exploration of jobs in the USA (where my family had emigrated to) and Tanzania right after leaving Lund in 2011, but I was ultimately drawn to Johannesburg – which is a wonderfully energetic and boiling pot of cultures, arts and ideas. For me, the attraction to Johannesburg was both professional and personal.
Professionally, I found an opportunity to work in corporate environmental sustainability as a consultant, and later I shifted to the national government to work on climate change mitigation policy and research in 2014 in the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Personally, I find fulfilment in being a part of the future of this relatively new country that has many many societal challenges. The general attitude of people I surround myself with are passionate about change and fixing the problems to improve the community around us. Of course, I am happy to be in a place with a wealth of natural beauty and such friendly and warm people!
Q: What does a typical day at the office look like for you?
If I could choose a word to describe a typical day working at the environmental ministry it would be: unpredictable. Though my current work focus is on analysis and research on climate change mitigation opportunities through to 2050 and allocating carbon budgets with companies, I might be called in by my manager to prepare an urgent briefing for senior officials or the minister’s office. Or, I might be requested on the day to represent our team at a stakeholder engagement for a new climate change regulation and so on. As I am writing this it is a Sunday and I am leaving a science festival in the Eastern Cape where I had provided climate change and energy workshops with high schools to catch a flight tomorrow to Bonn, Germany to attend a meeting for Lead Reviewers of National Greenhouse Gas Inventories of Annex I countries at the UNFCCC. It is a busy and dynamic job, to say the least.
Kent and his colleagues taking a break at the office.
Q: What is it like working with climate change issues in South Africa? Are there unique challenges that you have not experienced in other countries?
I think it is quite an exciting time to work on climate change issues in the world. Due to the complexity of the issue, a lot of the research and work I do is unique. We, as a world, are not acting fast enough and this can be really frustrating, but I try to keep focused on all the positive steps we make going forward. Fortunately, in South Africa, climate change is not challenged significantly by ‘climate skeptics’ and it is not a political issue. Most everyone in the country agrees we need to act, but the disagreements come on how we should act on climate change.
What makes working in the government of South Africa very interesting is that our government has a clear mandate to improve the social and economic situation while ensuring the future of the environment. Specifically, the team I work in has to contribute to improving the economy, increasing jobs and reducing the gap between rich and poor while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By the way, the right for a person to have a healthy environment is part of the Constitution here. The work that goes into developing our climate change effort within our specific team is just as much research on economic and employment impacts of climate action as actual greenhouse gas reductions.
Q: Has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work? In what ways?
I really appreciated the approach to teaching at Lund University, which promoted critical thinking and creativity within an academic setting. There was time and space provided throughout my course that allowed us as a class to discuss and really think about the environment, economy and society. This really got us thinking out of the box. I remember some of the crazy ideas we would come up with, like challenging the idea of having an economic system without ‘currency’ (proposed by my Ugandan friend) or ways to rebel against the consumption ways of society like disrupting city parking by having a few of us set up chairs in a parking bay without a car while still paying the parking meter (proposed by a Swedish friend).
Since it is such a complex issue that is cutting across all sectors, we really have to be able to critically think outside the box to be able to come up with impactful government solutions to mitigate greenhouse gases. I think the style of teaching at Lund University really prepared me for this.
A class gathering in Lund at one of our many dinners together.
Q: What is one of your favourite memories from your student days in Lund?
From waiting in the queue at Systembologet on a Friday to our relaxed dinners together with classmates, there are many fond memories. When I think of my time in Lund I still hear the train passing by to a standstill at Lund station, the suitcase wheels and bicycles steadily passing over the cobblestone, the heavy bass sound layered with laughter and screaming coming from the Nations. I could really get carried away with my fond memories.
As for a favourite memory, it would be hanging out with my friends in Stadsparken playing on a slackline and chatting about life.
This week we meet Huijin Ying, alumna from the Master of Psychology programme (class of 2016). Huijin has studied in China, the USA and Sweden, and currently resides and works in Lyon, France as an HR Project Manager at Groupe SEB.
Q: You have a Master’s of Science degree in Psychology from 2016. What have you been up to since your graduation?
During the last semester of my studies I visited my boyfriend at the time in France over the Christmas holidays. At that time I was searching for different internship positions and found a special internship in Lyon, France at Groupe SEB. They offered an internship position where one could work six months in France, and six months abroad. This was very appealing to me as I wanted to try out new things and explore my options. Hence, I applied, and went on the first interview, which went well. I had to return to Sweden after the Christmas holiday and began writing my master thesis, when I received an email from Groupe SEB who wanted a second interview with me. I told them about my situation, that I was studying in Sweden and that I was actually just on a visit in France. They told me that they would pay for my accommodation and flight, just as long as I flew to them for a second interview. How could I resist that? I couldn’t, and flew in to Lyon, or to be more precise, Ecully, for the second interview, and shortly after that they gave me the internship position. Right after I handed in my master thesis I flew to France and began my internship. After a while I became employed at Groupe SEB and today I work as an HR Project Manager there.
First potluck dinner together with my psychology class!
Q: You currently work as a HR Project Manager at Groupe SEB, focusing on the region EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in Lyon. How does a typical day at work look like for you?
Difficult to answer – there is no typical day! However, there are some common denominators which I work with. I work towards 15 countries: Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, India, Egypt, Central Europe (e.g. the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), Europe South Eastern Europe (e.g. Romania and Bulgaria) and the region of the Middle East. On a weekly basis I am in contact with all HR managers working at Groupe SEB in or for these countries/regions. There are nine HR managers which I communicate with, and some of them are responsible for several countries. For instance, the HR manager in the Czech Republic, is responsible for Hungary as well. I function as bridge between the local HR manager and the vice President of the EMEA region.
My role includes making sure all HR managers are working strategically and learning from their job. For instance, we arrange what we call “Learning Expedition”. This means that we sometimes, depending on the resources, send people from one country to another to learn from each other for a few days, exchange ideas and communicate what is needed for Groupe SEB to become better. As I mentioned, on a weekly basis I have contact with all nine HR managers, this is always a part of my schedule. Other than that, I have no “typical” day. New topics and projects arise all the time, seeing as the HR project manager role that I have is very versatile and I often have to learn new things, myself.
A picture from after I had done Dune Bashing in Dubai with my colleagues
Q: In what ways do you think your education from Lund University benefits you in your work?
I studied my Bachelor’s degree in the USA and when I came to Sweden I noticed how different the education system was. In the United States, I was used to the professors always providing us with a lot of information and leaving the classroom with all the essential information. However, when I came to Sweden, I remember leaving the classroom thinking: “That’s it?” However, I did not and still do not perceive that as a bad thing. This enabled me to strive to learn more myself, to read more; I don’t think I have ever read as much in my entire life as I did during my two-year Master in Lund! This has benefitted me in my work, as I always have to learn new things and try to understand everything, which I also had to do during my studies.
Q: What is your favourite memory (or one of your favourites) from your student days in Lund?
One of my fondest and strongest memories from Lund University was actually one of my psychology professors, Eva Hoff. She was incredibly supportive regarding my master thesis and helped me in many ways. For instance, she taught me how to think in an analytical way, while at the same time not being limited by the literature and studies that have already been conducted on the subject. She, among other professors, taught me to think creatively and to view things in a more complete, holistic, way. This has helped me in my current work and something I am very grateful for, which is the reason it is one of my favourite memories from Lund.
Group photo taken in the beautiful Swedish island, Ven
Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
Hard to say! I have always had many different ideas, and my life routes always changes, making it hard to answer this question if it were one year, let alone ten years! However, in my future I see myself working for myself, rather than working for someone else. There is more risk in this, however there is more excitement, which intrigues me. Perhaps I will be doing this in ten years. I think it was Tony Robbins, American author and entrepreneur, who once said something along these lines: “if you think of something hard enough, eventually it will happen”, which I believe is true. I will also strive to balance everything in my life better, so I have more time to do more hobbies of mine that I enjoy doing.
Q: You have been working in China, Japan, France, Sweden and the United States. What is your advice for alumni interested in an international career?
Speaking from experience, I know how shocked one can be when moving to a different country. I remember how shocked I was when I first moved to France. However, it is important, even though you are shocked, and that is okay, to pretend like you are not shocked. Do things the way the people in the country you work in do them. Do not judge people based on what they are doing, rather, try to learn why they are doing things differently from you, adapt and learn from your differences to create something fantastic.
Do not take things personally! Sometimes, people will not answer your emails or your calls. Do not take this personally! It has nothing to do with you as a person, but rather, your professional role, or that they are unavailable for one reason or the other.
This is similar to the first point, but try to understand other people, instead of judging them. Everyone is different and different cultures work in different ways. This I have learnt from my different work experiences. This is something I think is incredibly important, together with that you should respect other people’s culture and norms if you wish to work in an international environment.
Bojana Atanasova, alumna from the Master of Public Health programme
This week we meet Bojana Atanasova, alumna from the Master programme in Public Health (class of 2017). Today, Bojana lives in North Macedonia and works at the Ministry of Health in Skopje.
This week’s LU alumni around the world, Bojana Atanasova
Q: You received the Lund University Global Scholarship award in 2015. What did this award mean to you?
Lund University is in my heart and I have only beautiful memories from the time that I spent there while studying. When I received the Lund University Global Scholarship Award, I couldn’t believe that my dream came true. I got an opportunity to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This Scholarship was my only way to study in Sweden and I promised myself that I would engage hard in meeting the Lund University standards. This award was a window of opportunity for me and I am very grateful for receiving it.
Picture to the left: Bojana at her workplace together with Dr. Venko Filipce Picture to the right: The North Macedonian Delegation at the World Health Assembly 71 in the Palais des Nations, UN, Geneva
Q: You work at the Ministry of Health in Skopje. How does a typical day at work look like for you?
Six months after graduation, I got a big opportunity and started to work as an advisor for public health to the Minister of Health. Six months later, I got promoted and I became Chief of Staff. This position is a great chance, but it is also a huge responsibility. I am learning every day. As a Chief of Staff, there is not a single day that is the same as the previous one. Every day is busy, starting early in the morning, and ending 12 or more hours later on some days. It is definitely not a 9 to 5 job. I am taking care of the schedule and meetings of the Minister of Health, taking notes, planning travels, preparing for Government meetings. I am receiving a lot of phone calls every day, providing advices, managing the Cabinet, doing my best to make things happen, participating in a lot of meetings, and finally, together with the Minister of Health, creating public health policies.
Q: Has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work? In what ways?
Master public health (MPH) programme prepares you for your future job in many ways. It has been very beneficial in terms of understanding how the system works, how to implement better policies, and how to communicate with the public in terms of health promotion and health communication. Additionally, it helped me to read and understand papers, to conduct research and based on that, to create policies. With all the knowledge and experience gained at Lund University, I am confident in my everyday job. By working for the Government now, I have a chance to create better public health policies and, in that way, to provide better healthcare for the patients, something that was my wish even before enrolling to the MPH programme.
Q: What is one of your favourite memories from your student days at Lund University?
I have many beautiful memories from my student days and it is really hard to find just one. I remember all the parties, “fikas”, and hang-outs, especially the days around Christmas with “glögg” and “pepparkakor”. However, one of my favourite memories is our group visit to Copenhagen, at UN city and European Environmental Agency. We had very productive lectures there, learned how the EEA, the UNFPA, and the WHO work and made great connections.
Picture to the left: Group visit to the UN city in Copenhagen Picture to the right: Picture from the last day of the MPH programme
Q: If you could plan an ultimate vacation, where would you go?
I love to travel and this is a very hard question because I have many travel plans on my bucket list. 🙂 However, if I can plan an ultimate vacation, it would be a trip around the USA. I want to visit many places, starting from New York City and all its’ landmarks, to Washington DC and the White House, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and definitely my favourite destinations, Miami and Hawaii.
Q: What are your top three career tips for current students, especially international master students, at Lund University?
First of all, dream big. The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. It is very important to set a goal and go for it. You have to be very persistent and never give up. But once you know what you want, the whole university is a great resource, which can present many opportunities.
Second, do your best and find an internship. You will be surprised by how much you can learn from it. You will meet a lot of people, even maybe your future bosses. Every recommendation is beneficial, and your previous experience will help you in your future job. You will feel more confident after doing an internship.
Finally, I know that you can very easily fall in love with Sweden and you will want to find a job and stay there. If that is your dream after graduation, start learning Swedish from the beginning of your studies, stay connected with all your classmates and teachers and apply, apply, and apply for different jobs, and again never give up. Just don’t get disappointed if you cannot find a job after graduation. There is always a chance around the corner, so don’t lose hope and trust in yourself. And finally, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Lund University has not only filled the minds of many students, but it has also filled their hearts. The Love@Lund exhibition introduces you to couples who found love in Lund – in the corridor, the AF building or the classroom, just to name a few places where sparks flew. Most couples shary their stories in Swedish, but poster 1, 7, 9 and 12 are in English.
We’d like to give a special thanks to the couples who volunteered and sent us their stories! Did you meet your great love in Lund, share your story with us (info@alumni.lu.se) and be a part of Love@Lund 2020!
At the end of last year, Lund University caught up with alumni based in Thailand, as part of a Career and Alumni Networking event organised by the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
International Marketing Manager Megan Grindlay with alumni in Bangkok
The event brought together eight Swedish universities as well as several Swedish companies based in Thailand, including Tetra Pak, IKEA, Volvo, Atlas Copco, Astra Zeneca. The evening was an opportunity to network with prospective employers and alumni alike.
In the centre (dressed in black) is Lund alumna Siriorn Sutheerawong (MSc International Marketing and Brand Management 2013/14) who was a part of the alumni panel, chaired by Dr Pojanath Bhatanacharoen, Executive Director of the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce
The event took place as part of the Swedish Education and Career Days in Bangkok, with Swedish universities, Swedish companies, the Embassy and Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce collaborating and attending the OCSC Expo (Higher Education Fair) and visits to two Thai universities.
This week we meet Elina Jonsson, alumna from the Master degree in Law and the Master degree in Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law (class of 2014). Elina has work experience from Georgia, the USA, Switzerland, Russia and Poland. Today, she works as a diplomat at the Swedish Embassy in Warsaw.
Q: You currently work at the Political Section of the Embassy of Sweden in Warsaw. What does a typical day at work look like for you?
The days vary quite a lot in the work of a diplomat. Some days I gather information in meetings with interlocutors – from officials to experts to activists – while other days I participate in conferences like COP24 in Katowice. In Russia I was a frequent observer of trials and protests. Now and then I travel in the country. Embassies regularly host delegations from Sweden and representation is naturally a big part of our work. Most time-consuming at the political section may be the writing of diplomatic reports.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your job as a diplomat?
The variety of tasks and the need to think on your feet. Sometimes one has to come up with unconventional solutions quickly – but still in an elegant manner. To me it is enriching to strive for that balance and step by step learn the craftmanship of diplomacy. Problem-solving was also very important in my previous work as a peace observer.
Q: Has your education from Lund University been beneficial in your work? In what ways?
A legal background is always useful. Especially in diplomacy where negotiation and written communication are two of the cornerstones. In previous positions at the UN and EU I had more practical use of my knowledge of human rights and international humanitarian law. The playful spirit of Lund has been particularly beneficial in my work – not to take oneself too seriously.
Q: During your studies, you worked as a Qurator at Östgöta nation. What are your biggest takeaways from this work experience?
Everything. The one year full time Qurator position gave me invaluable experience in management, coaching, contract writing, event planning, budgeting, problem solving. A great insight into business management – and the practical experience that I needed to land my first assignment at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN in New York. It was also fascinating to work in a voluntary environment – as one has to motivate people to engage without being able to offer a salary. Someone with experience from work at a nation is usually a welcoming host with organizational skills – things I look for in a CV today.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel and why?
Home. I love living in the countryside of Sweden. I am hoping for the European night trains to run soon again – in order for me to fly less. To others I would strongly recommend a summer trip to Moscow – an exciting, beautiful and biking friendly megacity – recently ranked among the top six urban destinations in the world.
Q: You have work experience from Sweden, Georgia, the United States of America, Switzerland, Russia and Poland. What is your advice for alumni interested in an international career?
I believe languages are key. And a social understanding of cultural differences. It is also important to understand the differences between a foreign employer abroad, a Swedish employer abroad and an international governmental organization abroad. For instance, at the embassy I mainly speak Swedish – and enjoy Swedish fika – while at the EU or the UN I speak (and get to practice) the languages most used at that office – but I also need to adjust more.
Q: You speak several languages, Swedish, English, French, Russian and Chinese, among others. What is your advice for alumni wishing to learn more languages?
To be brave and curious and social. And to try to live in the country. Although I have studied Russian at university – I did learn most of my Russian in taxis or in neighbours’ kitchens or by explaining the rental bike system in Moscow. I am genuinely interested in people and I never really mind making mistakes, quite the opposite – a linguistic faux pas may be a great icebreaker. I also communicate with all kinds of people – as long as they are nice and friendly – and in that way I learn so much about the culture and country in which I live. Also in Sweden.
If you are interested in following Elina, see the links below:
The spring semester in Lund kicks-off with a new Arrival Day for 500+ exchange students. We took the opportunity to meet a few of these news students. All a bit jet-lagged but mostly excited about all the opportunities to explore a new part of the world and many new friendships.
Name: Liam From: Canada Studies: Mechanical Engineering Why did you choose Lund University? I have Swedish heritage, so I wanted to explore the country. What are you looking forward to right now? Travelling, I’m planning to also visit Norway, Belgium and Ireland.
Name: Emily From: Canada Studies: Political science Why did you choose Lund University? I want to experience Swedish culture. I like the lifestyle and I’m interested in the sustainability perspective. What are you looking forward to right now? I’m looking forward to meeting new friends from all over the world.
Name: Jessica From: Canada Studies: Economics Why did you choose Lund University? Because of the Swedish, and Nordic, lifestyle. It seems kind and advanced. What are you looking forward to right now? Meeting other international students and travelling around Europe.
Name: Fanny From: Austria Studies: International Business Why did you choose Lund University? I have always wanted to come here. When I was an au pair in France I had Swedish friends, so it’s a trip I always wanted to do. I also want to take the opportunity to explore the rest of Sweden, Finland and Norway. What are you looking forward to right now? To meet new people from different countries!
Name: Antonia From: Austria Studies: International Business Why did you choose Lund University? I recently visited Sweden for the first time and I liked it a lot. I researched study opportunities in Sweden and found that Lund University was the best choice for me. It is very good university and I also like the closeness to Copenhagen, that it is possible to be close to a bigger city while I’m here. What are you looking forward to right now? I’m looking forward to see how school here differs from Austria and experience the teachers’ approach to my field of study.
We at the Lund University Alumni office would like to wish everyone a really happy winter holiday! We are taking a few days off for vacation and will be back in business again on 8 January.
The plans for 2019 are not yet set in stone, but here are a few things to look forward to:
The joint alumni event at the House of Sweden in Washington D.C. on 12 February
The Love@Lund exhibition on Valentine’s Day 14 February in Lund
Don’t forget to save the date for the Alumni Weekend 5 October! The gala dinner will once again be held at Grand Hotel in Lund.
"A photo taken from one of the meetings where I attended as a World Bank representative"
This week we meet Sarulchana (Pam) Viriyataveekul, alumna who was an exchange student during the academic year 2014/2015. Sarulchana studied courses in Swedish, Swedish social policy, Economics and the Scandinavian Model of Equality – Gender, Class, Ethnicity and the Welfare state. Sarulchana currently works as a Research Assistant at the World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand.
Q: Why did you decide to study at Lund University?
The journey that led me to Lund University was driven by my fascination with the Swedish way of life and its’ welfare system, as I grew up watching documentaries and news about them. I wanted to get a taste of what the “happy” life is like in a welfare state, and learn how its’ elements can be applied in my country. Luckily, my university offered several exchange programmes with universities in Sweden, Lund University among them. The choice to study at one of the world’s top 100 universities was clear, especially as it is in the top 30 for development studies. I knew immediately that studying and living in a city where bright young minds gather would be one of the most memorable years of my life. And it turned out to be true!
Work with a view
Q: Currently, you work as a research assistant at the World Bank in Thailand. What does a typical work day look like for you?
My work days are rarely typical since I work for task team leaders in different units at the World Bank, and also at the Center for Research on Inequality and Social Policy (CRISP), Thammasat University. Both offices give me flexibility to design my work schedule. If I am not working from a café, I am either at one of the offices or attending meetings for my World Bank Task Team Leaders. Each day is unique, but below follows what a day at my work can look like.
Today, I started at 8 a.m. On my way to my first stop, I read online newspapers to check for news about inequality trends worldwide. Once I arrived at the research center, we had our weekly 9 a.m. meeting to lay out the plan for our first Newsletter. From the research center I traveled to The World Bank Office for another weekly update meeting with the Senior Human Development Specialist, where I was assigned new tasks for the whole week. By 11.30 a.m. I was back at my desk performing desktop research.
At around 2 p.m. I took my lunch break at a food court in the mall nearby. Sometimes I buy take away food to eat at the kitchen, so I can enjoy the stunning Skyline view while eating. By 3 p.m., I had switched to doing work for the Social Development unit, coordinating with a private sector partner to plan a Brown Bag Lunch session on ‘LGBTI Friendly Workplace’, a topic I am excited about. Once the sun was starting to set it was time for me to pack up my stuff and head home.
Q: Has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work? In what ways?
My Lund university education has been beneficial both directly and indirectly. In one of the research works on the welfare card scheme in Thailand, I was tasked with writing a literature review on the challenges and effectiveness of poverty targeting programmes in different countries. Having studied Swedish Social Policy, it is easier for me to grasp the concept of welfare systems in general. In my work at the World Bank, the knowledge I gained from the Scandinavian Model of Equality class equipped me with a gender and rights-based lens to apply to gender related projects.
Most importantly, the international environment in Lund prepared me well for the culturally vibrant working environment in my professional life. The soft skills honed from networking with classmates and new friends from diverse backgrounds helped me become more open and understanding, and allowed me to communicate more effectively with foreign colleagues as well as clients.
“A photo from my student time in Lund, here together with my corridor mates”
Q: I see that you have worked at the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce. During your time there, what were your biggest learning outcomes?
I learned that this year marked 150 years of relations and commerce between Thailand and Sweden. During some of those years, the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce (TSCC) has played an integral role in the enhancement of Swedish businesses in Thailand. When I worked for TSCC there were more than 120 members, most of which are Swedish companies such as ABB, Saab and Tetra Pak. Many of our member companies directly contribute to the progress of Thailand 4.0, an economic model which propels growth through innovation and technology. Not only do Swedish companies help transform the Thai economy, they also introduce Swedish values to the society. IKEA Thailand recently began granting four weeks of paid paternity leave to its’ employees, setting a great precedent for Thailand, which currently only grants paternity leave for state officials.
There were many interesting projects over the years; such as seminars and networking events on anti-corruption, corporate social responsibility, and digital economy with high-level speakers from the government and business sector. The project I found most exciting to work on was the upcoming ‘Swedish Education and Career Days 2018’, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok. At the Chamber, we were a small team consisting of four people, but we were planning the biggest international education event in Bangkok with over 20,000 visitors, together with organising alumni networking, and roadshows at Thai universities to connect Thai students and young professionals with world leading Swedish companies and universities (Lund University included!). The planning involved collaboration with various stakeholders, which spans across multiple sectors and nationalities.
Lucia celebration at the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Q: What is the most unexpected thing you learned at Lund University?
Being in a foreign country, pretty much everything was unexpected. For me, the most surprising thing was the Student Nations. I was overwhelmed by the options presented to me (it felt like Lund was the Swedish version of Hogwarts!). During the second semester, I volunteered at Kristianstads Nation several times, rotating my responsibilities from selling entrance tickets, preparing food, making drinks, to cleaning. After each time, volunteers were invited to attend a ‘Tacksittning’ (‘Thank-you-sittning’). Never before had I attended a dinner party where one has to dress up according to a theme AND sing (in Swedish) before each course. Even though I did not know the meanings of the songs most of the time, I still had fun trying to mouth the words and dancing to Håkan Hellström’s or Eurovision songs with the new friends I made at the end of the night.
This week we meet Huijin Ying, alumna from the Master of Psychology programme (class of 2016). Huijin has studied in China, the USA and Sweden, and currently resides and works in Lyon, France as an HR Project Manager at Groupe SEB.
This week we meet 
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