About 3,800 new students at Jönköping University

On 19 August about 3,800 new students started their studies at Jönköping University (JU). In order for them to get to know each other and get into the student life, Jönköping Student Union organizes a ten-day Kick-Off where the students sing, dance and have fun together on campus and other locations in Jönköping.

Se big slideshow below.

A bathtub race in Hamnkanalen, soapy football in Hälsoparken, rounders in Knektaparken and an overalls ceremony on Vätterstranden. These are some of the many activities that the newly arrived students could choose to take part in during the Kick-Off. The students get to know each other while having fun together. At the same time, they can get to know campus and learn to find their way around Jönköping.

“Make you feel at home from start”

Gresa Hoxha from Uppsala will be studying on the five-year Computer Science and Engineering programme at the School of Engineering (JTH).

“My brother studied Construction Engineering here and he says it was the best period of his life, so I followed his recommendations. There is a very welcoming atmosphere on campus and the fadders make you feel at home from the start. I have already found several friends and look forward to having a good time here,” she says.

It was during the PrevJU fair last spring that Gresa Hoxha decided on coming to JTH. She points out that the school has 1,000-plus collaboration partners and the fact that 90 percent of students have a job within two months of graduation.

“It feels safe. If you've studied for five years, you don't want to be unemployed afterwards,” she says.

Gresa would like to work abroad later in life and thinks that the many international students at JTH could become valuable contacts for the future.

"Developing and moving forward"

Sujan Sivakumaran, who previously studied on the Basic Science Year at JTH, will now study the Software Development and Mobile Platforms programme there.

“I am interested in computers, and it seems to be a good programme that offers good job opportunities. There is a nice atmosphere here and Jönköping is a great student city, which is constantly developing and moving forward," Sujan says.

He thinks the Kick-Off is great fun and a good way to quickly make new friends.

“We do fun things together and get to know each other, so being part of it is a good investment in your student life," he says.

“Only heard good things about JIBS”

Ella Norrgård from Norrköping will study Marketing Management at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS).

“I've only heard good things about JIBS, so it was an easy choice for me. It is a great education with opportunities to study abroad. I have lived in the US before and I like that the programme is in English,” she says.

Ella has several friends who have studied at JIBS and they were pleased with both their educations and student life at JU.

"A good start to student life"

Fredrik, who is moving here from Åtvidaberg, but comes from Stockholm, is going to study on the Elementary Teacher programme with a specialization in After School care at the School of Education and Communication (HLK).

“So far, the Kick-Off has been really fun. There seems to be a lovely bunch of people here and it's fun getting to know each other. A good start for student life,” he says.

Dana Sleiman and Eva Braga are both from Windsor, Ontario in Canada and will be doing an exchange semester in the Nursing programme at the School of Health and Welfare.

“It's great fun to be here. To learn a bit about the Swedish culture and to meet other international students and new friends. I think the Kick-Off is important because new students get to know the city, the campus and above all to create a community,” says Dana Sleiman.

"You grow as a person"

Aji Ida Jallow from Gävle will study International Economics at JIBS.

“It is a great school and I chose a programme that is in English to improve my chances of getting a job abroad. I expect that this education will give me everything I need to start my own company in the future,” she says.

Aji thinks the Kick-Off is great fun and a good way to get to know other students, as many are a little nervous at first.

“You grow as a person by getting to know new people with whom you will be studying with. But it’s not just about studying, you have to have some fun as well and I've seen a lot of fun things about the Kick-Off on JU's Instagram account," she says.

Aji thinks that Jönköping is a great city and says that she can look out over Lake Vättern from the balcony of her apartment, near the Asecs area in Jönköping.

“I enjoy living there very much and have never had such a nice view before,” she says.

Supporting the students

For many years, Jönköping Student Union has worked to ensure that Kick-Off is a fun inclusive, positive and memorable experience for the new students.

“Already last year, we started working more actively with the Code of Conduct policy. Everyone who is a fadder during the Kick-Off has gone through several training sessions. Part of the training has been about not pressuring someone to drink alcohol or do something they do not want to do,” says Julia De Geus, President of Jönköping Student Union.

All head fadders also wear a QR code clearly visible on their clothes, which the students can scan to get in touch with the Student Union if they feel uncomfortable and want to report something during the Kick-Off.

“You have fun with everyone”

There are also a number of fadders who abstain from drinking alcohol during the Kick-Off, which is clearly indicated on their clothing.

“We are the go-to people for those in need. We do the same activities and have as much fun as everyone else, only we don’t drink alcohol,” says Ghada Alani, who is one of the ‘sober fadders’ during the Kick-Off.

Hanna Magnusson, who study the second year of the Civilekonom programme at JIBS, says that she had a great Kick-Off last year and is now trying to recreate the same atmosphere as a fadder.

“That's how I made my first friends here. I try to be as excited as possible so that it rubs off on the new students. The best thing about the Kick-Off is that you meet so many new people and that you have fun with everyone. We are taking over the town a bit now and I think we should be heard and noticed during the Kick-Off so that people see who we are,” says Hanna Magnusson.

JU’s Student Health team is on-site during Kick-Of to help if needed. They also offer a "Laid-back Kick-Off" at the University Library where students can hang out and have coffee in a relaxed and sober environment.