Lund International Week

Lund International Week (LIW) is merely one project in a global union of similar projects that are all a part of the International Week Coordinating Organization (IW-CO). Within IW-CO over 20 countries and universities are involved from all around the world, everyone with the same goal and purpose; to support intercultural relations, to strengthen transnational co-operations and to create opportunities for long-term associations between students from different parts of the world.

Participating countries and universities all have their own week where international students are invited to get a glimpse of the cultural and business environment in their region, just like our week here in Lund. In other words, it is as a reciprocally exchange of cultural and commercial insights which will give the visiting students valuable international experiences.

LIW is a unique project since it gives just 1-2 top students per participating country the opportunity to visit Lund and the booming Öresund Region every year. In the same way 1-2 top students from Lund is given the opportunity to go to the other countries’ weeks to experience their culture and business society. The different international weeks around the world are financed by corporations, grants and other donations; the only thing the student has to pay for is the flight ticket. This is an essential part of the project, the financial perspective shouldn’t be an obstacle; everyone no matter their economic situation should be given an opportunity to experience another culture in this unique way.

The planning and preparations for the next LIW in April (14-22) 2013 is extensive and is going on for approximately 6 months. The week will consist of company visits, seminars, workshops and collaboration exercises to enable interaction and cultural exchanges between the visiting students. Another important feature of the week is the “Taste of Sweden” part, where the international students will experience Swedish food, culture and excursions with the aim to raise notice of what Sweden has to offer.

The project is based on four pillars: culture, commerce, relations and friendship. To be able to give the visiting students a sight of Sweden through the eyes of a Swede and to gain valuable contacts and great friends, they stay with a Swedish student during the week. The international week concept gives students from all over the world an opportunity to experience a new country, a new culture and a new business society in an exceptional and unique way.