Around the World in a Day – with Global Alumni Day
Uppsala University alumni are coming together in impressive numbers to celebrate Global Alumni Day on October 7.
On October 7, Uppsala University celebrates its 548th anniversary. The occasion is marked by several events, including an award and medal ceremony in the university auditorium. At the same time, nearly 1,000 alumni across 64 cities in 46 countries join in the festivities by taking part in Global Alumni Day, an international celebration of the university’s far-reaching community.
Over the years, students, doctoral candidates, and researchers who studied or worked at Uppsala University have spread across the globe. What unites them is the shared experience of spending time in Uppsala – a period often defined by curiosity, friendship, and cultural exchange. Together, they form a dynamic international network that benefits both the university and its alumni.
Global Alumni Day is an initiative launched by Uppsala University’s alumni team, within the Development Office. While each gathering is hosted locally in alumni’s home cities, the event is centrally coordinated from Uppsala. This marks the second time that Global Alumni Day is taking place. The first was held in 2017.
“Both times we’ve received a fantastic response from our international alumni. They are our ambassadors and friends out in the world, and it’s truly wonderful that they, just like us, want to stay in touch”, says Jorja Zambars, International Alumni Coordinator at the Development Office.
Fostering new connections and sharing experiences
For alumni, these gatherings offer a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with memories from their time in Uppsala or Visby, while also fostering new connections and sharing experiences in their current hometowns. Many are pleasantly surprised to discover just how many fellow Uppsala alumni live nearby.
The festivities kick off with a morning fika in Wellington, New Zealand, sweep across time zones like a global New Year’s celebration, and wrap up with an evening mingle in Santa Monica and a round of mini golf in San Francisco, USA.
New this year is an online event for those who aren’t able to meet in their hometown.
Noelia Ollvid