Testimonials

The stand was divided into five sections, showcasing the faculties for technology, science, law, economics, medicine and the humanities. Campus Helsingborg and study guidance were also on the spot.

“Interest was enormous. We had nearly 6,000 stand visitors,” explains Eva, who worked the technology section. Her stand manning team included a number of students who came from Göteborg, but were actually studying technology at Lund. This turned out to be a clever tactic.

“It worked very well. It’s often easier for visitors to talk to someone from their own home town. We feel that we made many very good contacts.”

She especially emphasises the Saturday, when many parents accompanied their youngsters.

“Saturday was again very successful and it’s unique for Göteborg. For some reason Saturdays don’t work at other student fairs. Our overall impression was very good and we will, of course, be back in 2009.”

Folkuniversitetet

Folkuniversitetet is the biggest adult education organisation in the country when it comes to art, music, ballet, design and photography. All of 800 students attend full-time courses every year. Most of them then pursue a professional career or go on to colleges and universities.

“It was busy and lots of fun,” says Ralf Zetterman, Head of Department at Folkuniversitetet’s Art College in Göteborg. “The fair was much more rewarding than I had anticipated,” says Ralf. “In fact, it was even better than we’d hoped. My spontaneous reaction is that this is a venue for us.”

Kriminalvården (Swedish Prison & Probation Service)

Bengt Herrman was mainly thinking about the lack of awareness of the many professional opportunities within the prison system: social workers, nurses, lawyers, engineers, IT technicians, etc.

Since the prison system is not affected by the current recession, the demand for new employees is high: around 120 per year in the western region of Sweden alone.

“It’s important that we get the right people, people who are suitable for the job,” he emphasises. “Our participation at the fair was mean to sow a seed, so to speak. And we really felt that we managed to do just that. We’ll almost certainly be back in 2009.”

Sjöfartskaravanen (Shipping Caravan)

“Our long-term goal is to recruit more young people to take courses leading to careers in the shipping industry,” explains Per A. Sjöberger of the Swedish Shipowners’ Association, which coordinated the effort.

Sjöfartskaravanen weighed anchor last summer with an icebreaker making a promotional tour along the coasts of Sweden. The campaign then continued in the autumn with advertising spots on youth-oriented radio channels. And when it came to the Student & Knowledge Fair in 2008 it attracted 2,200 visitors.

“We’re very, very pleased. It’s the first time our industry has exhibited. We didn’t expect anywhere near that number visitors. I’m certain that we’ll be back next year.”

Högskoleverket (Swedish National Agency for Higher Education)
Högskoleverket has been assigned by the Swedish Government to promulgate information about higher education. So exhibiting at the Student & Knowledge Fair is virtually automatic. “We were very pleased with this year’s fair,” says Krister Kjellin, Information Officer. “In past years, our stand was understaffed. This time, there were five of us instead of two, which meant that we could better attend to all our visitors.”

Many questions were about the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, and the training courses leading to specific careers.

“A lot of people asked about training in medicine, both in Sweden and abroad. We also received an unusually large number of questions about ship’s officer training this year, which was probably a result of the Shipping Caravan campaign. We’re convinced that we have an important role, and we’ll definitely be exhibiting again next year.”

Vägledningscentrum (Careers & Study Guidance Centre)

The questions from visitors were very much to do with the new admission rules to university, which take effect in autumn 2010.

“When the new rules come into force, a third of the quota now applying for admission on the basis of high school grades, in combination with future supplementary grades, will be transferred to a new quota and admitted directly on their school grades,” she notes. “And that will mean a new opportunity for a lot of people!”

At times, the pressure on the stand was enormous. And it is expected to be even greater in 2009, according to Ann-Charlotte:

“So to meet the demand, we’re planning to double our resources at the fair - twice the staff, twice the number of computers and twice the number of high tables.”

University of Borås

Most questions concerned the popular textiles course, but the teacher training, engineering, economics and health care programmes also attracted lots of interest. The plentiful choice of student accommodation in Borås is another trump card for the University.

“A lot of students from Göteborg are prepared to commute; it’s only 40 minutes by train,” said Belma, herself a commuter. “Our overall impression of the fair was very positive. We met our target group. And we will, quite definitely, take part again next year.”

Samhällsbyggarna (Builders of the Future)

“This fair was the best of all the fairs, so far,” says Lars Tullstedt, Head of Recruitment at the Swedish Construction Federation.

The other seven organisations who took part in the recruiting drive were Banverket (Swedish Rail Administration), Vägverket (Swedish Road Administration), Lantmäteriet (National Land Survey), VVS-företagen (Federation of Heating, Plumbing, Sanitation Companies), EIO (Electrical Installers’ Organisation), Svensk Energi (Swedenergy), and the Swedish Federation of Consulting Engineers & Architects.

“Even if the recession strikes hard, we’re going to need a lot of new staff in a few years time. Amongst other things, we’re going to see a heap of people retiring over the next five years. So now is actually a good time to train for the building sector. And by the time people are finishing their courses, there’s every chance that we’ll be back in a boom. Which, of course, is why we need to invest in the future. So we’re really hoping we’ll be back again in 2009.”

Swiss Hotel Management School

“It was the first time we took part in the Student & Knowledge Fair. But it won’t be the last. We’ll definitely be back in 2009,” says Imke Schmid, Regional Manager, SHMS.

Imke spoke to some 200 visitors. “Interest was high. Some young people who came with their parents, are now planning to go to our two-day Open House in Switzerland in the spring. A dozen Scandinavian students are already attending our school, and we’d like to see more joining us.”

GildaSkolan (Gilda International Beauty School)

“We spoke to around 500 young people. So we’re more than satisfied,” says teacher Lina Lindbäck.

The school takes on 36 students per year for training in skin and spa therapy - a sector that is showing strong growth. The students are accepted following practical tests and interviews.

“Although we have no difficulty filling our places, we’re always happy to receive a lot of applications. That way we can be sure of finding students of the highest possible quality. We feel that the Student & Knowledge Fair is the right forum for us. We’re definitely on for the 2009 fair.”

Visitors were able to ‘borrow’ someone who worked in the job for a short private conversation. Rather like borrowing a book from a library. The ‘books’ in this ‘living library’ were people from some 40 different professions.

“We are really pleased with the outcome. Our ‘books’ were kept busy most of the time,” explains the ‘librarian’ Karin Larsson of Experiential Learning at GR Education (GR is the Göteborg Region Association of Local Authorities).

A lot of people saw the stand as a welcome oasis, with comfortable seating in a quiet, relaxing setting.

“Many of our visitors had been dashing around among the stands,” she says. “When they came to us, they thought it was relief to be able to have a chat in peace and quiet, without a lot of sales talk.”

‘Books’ on many different jobs were in demand, with Police Officer, Priest, Psychologist, Sleep Expert, Cook, Sports Teacher, Biomedical Analyst, Lay Welfare Worker and Children’s Nurse topping the ‘lending list’. All in all, some 300 individual conversations took place. And the ‘books’ took part entirely free of charge.

“Potential employers saw it as a good marketing channel”, says Karin.

Both visitors and ‘books’ gave the idea very high marks. Everyone - visitors and ‘books’ alike - felt that their conversations had been worthwhile. And all of 70 per cent gave the idea the very highest rating. So the “living library” will almost certainly be a feature of the 2009 event.