Inspiration and exchanges at the Future Forum
For the third year in a row, Universeum was filled with high school students, just on their way out into the labour market. Volvo Cars, AstraZeneca, SKF, Saab, Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg were on hand to inspire studies and work in STEM subjects.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.
In addition to the co-organisers, the more than 800 young people were also able to meet Young Researchers, a non-profit organisation with the aim of promoting young people's interest in science, technology and mathematics. At the fair, four innovation projects from Vinnova were exhibited, which also participated in the Meeting Place for Future Vision on 31 January. The food system – duty above all, Public transport for all, Autonomous last mile and Future food – about reacting and acting looks into the future and presents sustainable solutions for the food and mobility system.
LECTURE AND CONVERSATION.
In addition to the co-organisers' stands, the young people could also take part in lectures and discussions about choosing education, career choices and the time after graduation. Young people from Katrinelund Upper Secondary School, Bernadotte Upper Secondary School and Franklin Upper Secondary School held the activities.
MAKE CONTACTS.
Simon Frisack, Franklin's Gymnasium, and Josef Highi, Bernadotte Gymnasium, are two of the young people who have previously visited the Future Forum, but this year they are acting as moderators for the various talks and lectures that are arranged.
JOSEF: Future Forum is... Knowledgeable! You get to know a lot.
SIMON: You get to improve your rhetorical skills by speaking in front of people, it feels like an important thing to learn before working life. And of course, make contacts.
JOSEF: Yes, making contacts was the main thing that got me interested in this. AstraZeneca and Saab are the ones I'm most interested in.
THE HOUSE IS FULL.
High school students from Gothenburg and the surrounding municipalities filled Universeum to the brim. Future forums took place on almost all floors of the building. The students are in the second year of high school, so it is high time to start thinking about life after graduation.
TO FACE WORKING LIFE.
Hana Abbas and Jin Saadi attend the American High School. Future forums have helped them see the future a little clearer, they think.
JIN: We are here and look around a bit. It's interesting because when you're in high school, you don't know what you're going to do next, maybe work at Volvo or Saab.
HANA: It can be difficult for you to know what you want to become. It's really nice to get some feedback and a better idea of what to do, when you see others who are already up and running. It's great that we get to come here.
Exchange for all.
The Future Forum is a chance for young people to get in touch with important players in academia and business – but also a way for universities and companies to meet future students and employees. The purpose of the day is to create dialogue and increase interest in higher studies and professional work in the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The skills of the future.
Matti Ahlqvist is Chief Operating Officer at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg and participated in several panel discussions during the day where he met the visiting young people. There were many questions about how you as a high school student should think, and what knowledge you need to have to get into working life.
"It's fantastic that they show interest and ask these questions. When I was in high school, there was a lack of contact with the business world, so the fact that today's young people have the opportunity to directly interact with companies like AstraZeneca is really inspiring.
AstraZeneca is one of Universeum's partners and a co-organizer of the Future Forum.
"For us as a company, it's both about what we can contribute to Sweden and its young people, but also about the valuable insights we gain about future recruitment and skills needs. This type of meeting gives us a unique opportunity to reflect on our needs together with a broad group of people in a way we rarely do in everyday life. It is inspiring to see how mature, competent and aware today's young students are, both as moderators and visitors.