Author: Joseph Dumond | Major: Computer Science | Semester: Fall 2024

Sam (left), Mo (right), and myself enduring the vicious cold of a fjord in Norway connected to the Arctic Ocean

I still remember the mandatory study abroad info session I attended as a freshman as part of my General Introduction to Engineering class. I remember the slide depicting snow-covered streets and a town sitting right on a massive lake. Further research revealed that the depicted program was the University of Arkansas’s direct exchange with Jönköping University in Sweden. A couple years later when I was considering programs for an exchange semester, I made sure to consider all my options. However, I couldn’t shake that initial jolt of excitement I felt when I first laid eyes on Jönköping.

Sweden offered the promise of unparallel natural beauty. Clean, crisp air, lake water so clear that you could try and count individual sand grains (or see beautiful reflections as my image shows), and the chance to meet a new culture and people. In addition, the classes offered piqued my interest and gave me chance to learn new skills that wouldn’t be addressed in my traditional course work. My mind was set, I was headed to Jönköping, Sweden for the Fall 2024 semester.

Upon my arrival I was hurled into a kickoff lasting ten days and though words fail to describe the breadth of the experience, “awesome” comes pretty close. However, one thought rang clear in my mind “what on Earth are all the students wearing?” I was surrounded by current program students all wearing what appeared to be large, colorful cargo pants. Students would have different colors and their pants would be adorned with countless patches and markings in black sharpie.

By the end of the kickoff week, all was revealed. Students at Jönköping University wear overalls, or as it’s referred to in Swedish, an ovve. The ovve, worn only during special school events, is worn about the waist with the sleeves tied back. The colors represent the different schools, with the School of Engineering, the school I belonged to, claiming a bold orange. The patches and sharpie markings showcased the true essence of what student life at Jönköping University was all about, an emphasis on being part of a community. Patches are given or bought at special events and provide a way for students to not only style their ovve but also show that they are active participant of the student community. There are even patches that can be shared between students, as Jasper and I demonstrate by showing off our duo jelly-butter patch in the photo. The sharpie markings are often signatures or drawings from other students, similar to a yearbook, but somehow much more meaningful. It was truly wonderful to feel so connected to such a vibrant student community.

Classes at Jönköping University definitely provided a new perspective on education. In Sweden, there is great emphasis on personal commitment to a class. The majority of the learning should be done outside of lecture, on your own time, with the expectation that you would continually review the material as the class progressed. Though a bit of an adjustment at first, this style propelled me to uphold a greater sense of self-discipline and I felt myself engaging with the material on a deeper level. In particular, I enjoyed Web Development Fundamentals and Network Programming. These classes were not only taught by excellent instructors, but the course material was interesting and the labs provided hands on engagement with the subject matter. I got to design and implement a fake chocolate shop website and complete various interactive socket programming labs in Python. These courses truly exemplified the union between knowledge theory and technical skill.

One of the most special experiences I got to have while abroad was the chance to go Finnish Lapland, or as it could also be called, “the epitome of winter wonderland”. The Jönköping University student union partners with a travel agency to provide amazing trips at affordable prices for students. Options included Iceland, The Baltics, and Lapland. I was in Lapland for only a week but the time I spent there with my trip mates, many of whom were fellow exchange students I had come to call friends, was truly magical. From speaking with a fourth-generation reindeer herder, to manning a husky sled, to snowshoe hiking in a forest at night, to seeing the Northern lights in person, each experience holds a truly special place in my memory. Of particular fun was plunging into a Nordic fjord connected to the Artic Ocean with my buddies (see image). Of course, we heated back up in a conveniently located sauna a quick dash from the shore but I realized that the word “cold” will now always have a specific experience seared in my brain.

I am truly grateful that I got to experience such a wonderful program with Jönköping University. The experiences I enjoyed, friends I made, and community I got to be a part of was truly something special. I know that I will cherish this adventure forever.