A city to live and enjoy before, during and after their studies, and students are seen as an obvious part of the city's development. That is why the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) has named Malmö Student City of the Year 2021/22.
Every year, the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) presents the Student City of the Year award to a city that excels in its work to create a good study and living environment for students. In 2021/2022, the award will be given to Malmö.
“Malmö is a city that demonstrates a well-functioning student influence. In Malmö, it is clearly visible that students are an obvious part of the city and therefore it is now fantastically fun to award Malmö this award. Their work in encouraging studies has been very inspiring and we hope that the Student City of the Year 2021/2022 award will continue to inspire to strengthen the voice of students in the city, the university and the student unions”
Linn Svärd Vice President SFS
The "Student City of the Year" award has been presented since 1999 and is the only one of its kind. Malmö University, Malmö City, the Malmö Student Union and the Malmö Dental Student Union jointly receive the award.
Justification
The city that receives the Student City of the Year award should be characterized by good collaboration between students, city and university, and it is with pride that SFS appoints Malmö as Student City of the Year 2021/2022. The award goes to a city that is not afraid of new challenges. A city that always has development in focus. A city that is proud of its students. A city that is prepared to do everything to ensure that students enjoy themselves – before, during, and after their education. The City of Malmö, Malmö University, Malmö Student Union and the Malmö Dental Student Union are conducting structured work to strengthen the student city of Malmö. Malmö is a student city to study, live and enjoy in. The city safeguards the well-being of students and demonstrates well-integrated student influence in all processes.
SFS visits Malmö to present the award
SFS Vice President Linn Svärd went to Malmö to congratulate Malmö University, the Malmö Student Union, the Malmö Odontological Student Union and the City of Malmö on the award and talk about what the award means for them going forward.
Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Chair of the City of Malmö Municipal Board, spoke about what the award means for Malmö as a city.
“The students mean a lot to us and this award is a testament to the fact that many of us have, in different ways, together succeeded in making Malmö an attractive student city /…/. We are on the right track and will continue to develop Malmö as a student city in the future. I look forward to welcoming more students here.”
Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Chairwoman of the Municipal Board, City of Malmö
From Malmö University, we spoke with Kerstin Tham, the president of Malmö University.
“The award has a symbolic meaning, in the same way that we received university status three years ago. For our students, two-thirds of whom are first-generation graduates, this means a lot. So it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Kerstin Tham, Vice-Chancellor of Malmö University.
The student unions that are awarded the award are the Malmö Student Union and the Malmö Dental Student Union.
“I feel great joy that our strategies have worked and that we have had many projects brought to fruition/... I also feel very proud of the collaboration with the other student union, the university and the city”
Matin Farzad, Chairman, Malmö Dental Student Union
“It feels so incredibly fun, the whole application process was valuable in itself and helped us refine our vision of what Malmö student city should become. Now it will be extra fun to welcome student unions from all over the country to SFSFUM 2022”
Lilli Auginski, Chair, Malmö Student Union
Zeynep Erdal, student city coordinator, talked about what will happen in the future.
“This is a clear indication that we are on the right track, which feels incredibly exciting. We now continue to work towards our goal of becoming Sweden's best student city /.../. We are also looking forward to planning for SFSFUM next year.”
Zeynep Erdal, Student City Coordinator, City of Malmö & Malmö University