More Mexican Students to Gränna as Summer School Expands
Over four weeks this summer, 31 Mexican high school students gathered in Gränna to take part in the Jönköping University Youth Summer School. The programme introduced them to Swedish culture, how Swedish companies work with sustainability, and, perhaps most importantly, gave them memories to last a lifetime.
“The four weeks in Sweden felt like a dream, and I really enjoyed my time in Gränna. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place. I learned a lot about the differences between Mexican and Swedish culture. I also learned that Swedes genuinely enjoy looking for new ways to improve their own lives and the lives of others. I truly loved Sweden and the sense of safety I felt here,” said Carolina Flores Carvajal from IEST Anahuac.
For the fifth consecutive year, Jönköping University Enterprise (JUE) organized a summer school for young people from Mexico. This year students from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Instituto de Estudios Superior de Tamaulipas Anáhuac (IEST) participated in the program.
JUE is based at Jönköping University’s Campus Gränna, which also served as the location for the summer school and its closing ceremony on 24 July.
Eva Gipperth, University Director at Jönköping University, attended the ceremony to celebrate with the students, present their diplomas, and speak about the importance of international students to the university.
“To see the students’ enthusiasm and joy, as well as their willingness to continue their studies and spend their summer in a completely different country, far from everything they are used to, is truly inspiring,” said Eva Gipperth.
Four weeks, four themes
As in previous years, the four-week programme was organized around different themes, all related to sustainability.
The four-week programme was structured around four themes: Sustainability in Business during the first week, Sustainability in a Swedish Context during the second week, Swedish Culture and Cultural Heritage during the third week, and Sustainability in a Global Perspective during the fourth week.
In addition to providing academic knowledge, the aim of the summer school was to introduce the students to life as a university student in Sweden and to show how Sweden works with sustainability. The participants also had the opportunity to experience Swedish life through a variety of activities.
“During the programme, I took the students on visits to museums and introduced them to Swedish nature through activities such as forest hiking, swimming in a lake, and cycling on Visingsö. The students truly appreciated the classes, study visits, and hands-on learning experiences during their stay. They have also explored the area on their own, and it is clear that they love the Swedish summer,” said Xiaoli Du, Teaching Assistant, Pathway Programmes.
A life-changing experience
Now that they have completed the programme, the students will return home to finish high school in Mexico. However, the hope is that the summer school will inspire some of them to remain connected to Sweden and perhaps continue their studies at Jönköping University in the future.
“It has been an amazing and life-changing experience, thanks to the culture, the people, and the courses I have taken. I have learned so much and will bring this experience back to Mexico to try to make things as good there as they are in Sweden,” said Oscar Armani Cardenas Robles from Technológico de Monterrey.
Pictures from the celebration:
