| Linnéuniversitetet | |
|---|---|
| Linnéuniversitetet | |
| Established | 2010 (1977) |
| Type | Public university |
| Endowment | SEK 1.5 billion |
| Rector | Stephen Hwang |
| Academic staff | 2,000[1] |
| Students | ca 15,000 FTE[1] |
| Location | Växjö & Kalmar, Småland, Sweden |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | lnu.se |
Linnaeus University (LNU) (Swedish: Linnéuniversitetet) is a public university in the Småland region of Sweden. It has two campuses, one in Växjö and one in Kalmar. Linnaeus University was established in 2010 by a merger of former Växjö University and Kalmar University College (Swedish: Högskolan i Kalmar), and has been named in honour of Carl Linnaeus.[1]
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Växjö University was initially a department of Lund University that was founded in 1967 in Växjö. In 1977 this department became an independent university college. The college was then granted university status by the Government of Sweden in 1999.
Kalmar University College was a högskola founded in 1977. Since 1999 it had been entitled to issue doctoral degrees in the natural sciences.
The symbol consists of a stylized tree. The origin is a Linnaeus drawing taken from his "Örtabok". While the tree is said to be a symbol for the month of May and to represent the power of growth, it also symbolize LNU's ambition to be a global university with the region as its base and the world as its arena.[2]
There are two campuses, one in Växjö and one in Kalmar.[1]
Kalmar is a medium-sized town, with ideal settings for student life. The town is attractive and conveniently laid out, with a colorful history and a castle dating back to medieval times, close proximity to the sea, undulating farmlands and deep forests. The School of Natural Sciences in Kalmar has special competence in the area of life, health and the environment and is recognized for excellence in teaching and research across a range of natural sciences and related disciplines. The School offers Master’s programmes which equip the graduate for work in industry or future studies towards a PhD. However, the student life in Kalmar has recent been partly worked against by the local authorities. For example, the only nigh club for students in Kalmar, Core House, was closed due to a rent chock from the owner, Kalmar Kommun.[3]
Växjö, is a central community in southeastern Sweden, with a full range of cultural and musical life in its many museums, theaters, cathedrals and concert halls. The area is known as the Kingdom of Crystal since world class glassworks such as Kosta Boda and Orrefors are located here. The House of Emigrants commemorates the great emigration epoch from 1850 to 1930, when 1.3 million Swedes emigrated to America. The region is also known for its high tech industry, pulp and paper manufacturing, and home of the furniture manufacturer, IKEA. The surrounding pristine lakes and forests are an attraction for those who love wildlife and the outdoors. Växjö is also one of the leading tennis cities in the world as Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Magnus Larsson and Jonas Bjorkman have all trained and played here. Växjö is easily accessible from Copenhagen and Stockholm by plane and train.
The campus is located just outside of Växjö city center. It was modelled after the American Campus style, meaning that all teaching premises are within walking distance. The campus was built with the environment in mind, as it is bordering a nature conservation area.
There are 3,700 student apartments and dorm rooms on the university campus housing approximately 4,600-5,200 students. A part of the university campus is dedicated to the Videum Science Park. The park gives space to over 100 companies, thus being in close proximity with the university and encouraging innovation and research. The university also has student housing on Seminarievägen located in Växjö city center.
Teaching premises and accommodation stand side by side on the campus. There are also restaurants, cafés, bars, bookshops, a sports centre and a variety of service facilities. The campus offers a safe, relaxed environment despite the high level of activity. It is bordered by meadows, a nature conservation area, a lake with bird-watching towers and a castle.
New buildings have been erected with due concern for the environment, leaving room for old trees and moss-covered boulders among the new architecture on campus. Cars have only limited access to the site, but cycle paths lead directly to the town centre and out into the beautiful countryside all around.
VIS standsfor Växjö International Students. It is a non-profit organisation, and a local section of ESN Sweden.
The board and its community consist of students that use their own spare time to create activities for all exchange students, and to give them a positive experience of Växjö.
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