The theme of the Swedish Cultural Day — “Sweden beyond IKEA and ABBA: get to know the neighbours on the other side of the Baltic Sea” — invited the EHU community to look at Sweden beyond its most widely recognised cultural symbols.
In his welcoming remarks, EHU Rector Dr Vilius Šadauskas emphasised that the essence of the “National Culture Days at EHU” initiative lies in direct and informal communication, opening opportunities to gain a better understanding of European countries, their societies, and cultural contexts. According to the Rector, such meetings contribute to strengthening EHU as an international academic community and promote open dialogue between students, lecturers, and diplomatic partners.
The presentation to the EHU community was delivered by Erik Ehrner, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Lithuania, and Gustav Örnberg, intern at the Embassy. They introduced participants to the specific features of Swedish society, cultural traditions, and values. Following the presentation, participants had the opportunity to engage in informal conversations with Embassy representatives over coffee.
At the end of the event, symbolic gifts were presented to the representatives of the Embassy of Sweden: caricatures drawn during the event by professor Ilja Bereznickas, EHU lecturer and artist. This creative gesture became a vivid sign of the university community’s hospitality and commitment to cultural dialogue.
The Swedish Cultural Day at EHU contributed to the University’s broader objective of fostering an open, international, and culturally diverse academic environment, where diplomatic, academic, and intercultural dialogue forms an integral part of the student experience.
