“It will start with an open house event in the main University building, celebrating the future with a chance for visitors to create 3D holograms, try programming and experience virtual reality. There will also be a guided tour of the University Museum at Kulturen, a closing ceremony, diplomas awarded to participants in the jubilee course, a concert in the cathedral and a dinner in the Academic Society Building”, she says.
The jubilee year featured 393 activities, most of which were very well-attended.
“We estimate that at least twice as many people visited the University as in a normal year, but it is very difficult to calculate the exact number”, says Carina Jensen.
There have been science weeks, a jubilee course, concerts, inaugurations and much more. The activities were implemented by committed staff throughout the University.
“We have met many passionately engaged individuals, both within and outside the University, who created activities together. Many of the events of the jubilee year would have taken place in a normal year too, but the jubilee enabled us to present the University’s range in a cohesive way, shining a spotlight on its multifaceted activities”, says Carina Jensen.
The year was also marked with a series of unique jubilee events. Sometimes, it was difficult to predict how much of an audience they would attract. Among the first items on the programme was Ulf Ellervik’s lecture on the art of enjoyment.
“There were 500 people queueing up as far as the fountain on a cold, dark January evening. He had to give the talk twice in a row, and we streamed it online as well...”
The science weeks during the jubilee are examples of activities that brought researchers and other employees together across disciplinary and faculty boundaries. It is hoped that this set-up, sometimes referred to as the jubilee model, will now live on in one or several common science weeks per year, starting with a Sustainability Week in April. There could also be a continuation of the Children’s Exploration Day, which was organised together with Kulturskolan, the Swedish church and other stakeholders during the jubilee.
“It was lovely to see the joy at the Children’s Exploration Day, where our students contributed to giving children a chance to try out and learn new things.”
The jubilee course in Lund culture was also well-attended, and some keen participants went to every single lecture. A continuation course is planned for 2018.
“We hope the faculties will continue to contribute to a common course. But it will have to be in a reduced format, as we don’t have the resources we had during the jubilee year.”
What did the jubilee cost?
"The jubilee had a budget of SEK 22 million over six years which also covered the salaries of three staff members. In addition to this, donors contributed SEK 10 million to specific jubilee activities. The jubilee also facilitated contacts between researchers and philanthropists", says Carina Jensen.