BUP Student Conference
This is the BUP's largest, participation-wise, annual event and it is usually hosted during the spring. The focus and content of the conference shift each year.
The conference organiser is The Baltic University Programme‘s Coordinating Secretariat at Uppsala University, Sweden, in cooperation with one or more participating universities.
The BUP Student Conference 2026.
Conference aim and target group
The Student Conference offers students from BUP participating universities the opportunity to take part in a multi- and interdisciplinary learning experience with a focus on sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region.
The general learning objectives of the conference are to:
- Develop students’ expertise in interdisciplinary and intercultural communication.
- Introduce and expand students’ skills in different academic activities; workshopping, debating, finding compromise, moderating, and presenting.
- Encourage students to become problem-solving thinkers, with a view to the future and continuing a sustainable future/rebuilding.
Photo: Pontus Ambros
Students' Parliament
Each year, students taking part in the BUP Student Conference have the chance to make their voices heard and select their new BUP Student Representative to BUP's International Board. The Students’ Parliament is a fantastic way for students to engage further within the BUP.
Students accepted to the conference will automatically become members of the Students' Parliament. Allowing them to vote, suggest proposal and run as a candidate as the BUP Student Representative to the BUP's International Board.
Read more about the BUP Students' Parliament.
Former BUP Student Representative Ellen Chkhitadze led the Students’ Parliament during the Student Conference 2022. Photo: Johanna Liisa Järveläinen / Liis Seenemaa
The Baltic Debate
The Baltic Debate is an Oxford-style debate, adjusted for the BUP Student Conference’s format. The participants are divided into two teams that argue to convince a student jury and a student judge to decide on their cause. The debate takes place over three sessions, starting with (1) the argumentation phase, (2) counter-argumentation and (3) the conclusion phase. During this, each team is given a limited time to present their arguments, counter-arguments and conclusion. After the three phases have passed, the jury and the judge leave the room to decide on which side should be the winner of the debate and announce this to the two teams.
The Baltic Debate is a good opportunity to practice argumentation skills and learn how to objectively view opinions.
Former BUP Student Representative Mirjam Weituschat in a past debate. Photo: Jozef Počil
Contact and questions
If you have questions about the Student Conference, do not hesitate to contact info@balticuniv.uu.se.