Emelie Westergren, Conference Host
Introduction
My name is Emelie Westergren, and it is my great honour to be here to lead you through today’s ceremony.
Twenty years ago, I completed my studies at Dalarna University and for almost 15 years, it has been my place of work – a place of work that would be nothing if it weren't for you students and your decision to make Dalarna University your place of study.
It might be an unlikely comparison perhaps, but education is like bread dough. When you began your university studies, you were like fresh dough – full of potential but in need of nourishment to grow and develop. During your time here, you have nourished yourself with knowledge, skills, insights, and experiences. The process may not always have been quick and easy. Sometimes you may have felt like nothing was happening and you may have been ready to give up. At times like that, having people around you was important: family, friends, teachers - like bakers tending their bread dough, they tended you and helped you take the next step. And what you have become is fantastic.
But the process does not end here, not for the dough and not for you either. What you have built here is the foundation – and it is up to you to build on that foundation. With time and effort, you can shape your future to be the one you want. And you can make a difference, both for yourself and for others.
I want to thank everyone who has supported you during your journey – family, friends, teachers. Just like bakers with their bread, these people have helped you reach your full potential.
When you take the next step, remember that the work you have put in here simply marks a beginning. Just as dough needs continuous care to stay alive and grow, you need to feed yourselves with new knowledge, new experiences, new challenges, and new life lessons. With time, effort, and the right nutrition, you can shape your future exactly as you want it and create something that makes a difference, both for yourself and for others.
Jörgen Elbe, Vice-Chancellor, Dalarna University
Dear Students, Honourable Guests, Welcome to the Dalarna University Leaving Ceremony.
Today, the focus is on you, the students. This is your day – and evening! It is your achievements, your successes, and your newly acquired knowledge that we are here to celebrate. It is the University’s and my great pleasure to recognise each and every one of you on the completion of your studies.
Dear Students and Guests! A warm welcome to the Dalarna University Leaving Ceremony. We are here today to celebrate the achievements of our students. It is with great pleasure that Dalarna University and I acknowledge each and every one of you upon the completion of your studies.
To invest in education is to invest in the future. Many of you are now qualified professionals with exciting careers ahead. In your different roles and with your different expertise, you will benefit society and contribute to its development.
Your education has helped you grow both as individuals and as members of society. You have become wiser, gained more perspectives – and perhaps even a few grey hairs!
You have learnt to see things in new, perhaps different ways. You have learnt to question and to take nothing for granted; you have learnt to distinguish between opinion and fact. All of this has helped you develop a sound sense of judgement, which is what we all need when we take a stand on what is sensible, important and right. And this we must do, given the challenges we currently face.
It is the responsibility of us all to address the issues concerning the environment, climate and energy resources. We must be able to navigate a tense political climate where security is paramount. War is being waged nearby, and Gaza is facing a humanitarian disaster. Democracy is under threat in several countries, most notably the United States, where the independence of the judiciary and the media, as well as academic freedom, is under severe pressure. Given what is happening in our world, we all need to defend the fundamental values and principles that form the foundation of an open society. Here, a particularly great responsibility lies with all of us who have been educated within higher education: we must stand up for freedom, democracy and justice.
Your achievements during your years of study have required discipline, perseverance, and hard work. Yet I hope you found time to have fun, and many of you have, I’m sure, made friends for life.
Some of you may be feeling sad as you leave behind this stage in your life that has been so full of challenges and personal development. You may also feel sad to be saying farewell to other students who have come to mean so much to you. Yet you may perhaps also be feeling a sense of relief to be leaving behind those pre-exam, pre-presentation nerves, and perhaps even that feeling when you saved your studying to last minute ahead of an exam.
But I hope you can truly look back positively on your time here. Be happy for the good friends you have made over the course of your journey and be grateful for the teachers who have travelled beside you. Above all, be proud of your performance and achievements.
As you set out on a new, exciting and important chapter in your life, know that you are always welcome back to the university, be it to study further, to be a guest lecturer or teacher, or to work with us on a project. On behalf of all staff, I would like to thank you for choosing to be part of Dalarna University.
That is all I will say for now since it is high time that you celebrate with your proud relatives and friends who have come here today to recognise your achievements. In conclusion, I would simply like to say once more that you should take pride in what you have achieved!
Finally, to our international students, I would like to congratulate you on what you have achieved. We are proud and happy that you chose to study at Dalarna University. Today is a time for celebration, but remember that you are always welcome back, be it for further studies or simply for a "fika".
Thank you and the best of luck!
Ebba Erkas, Chairperson, Dalarna's Student Union
Honourable Students, today is your day. Dear Students, today is all about you.
It is a day filled with joy, pride and melancholy. You made it. You completed your programme. And now it’s time to take a giant step into the next stage in your life. My name is Ebba Erkas, and I am the chairperson of Dalarna's Student Union. I was one of those who welcomed many of you to Dalarna University on your first day. I am so happy that I got to be a part of your journey, that I got to see you grow, and that I get to be here today with you to say a few words.
Life after university is much the same. There will still be long days of hard work, and there will be new chapters for you to fill as you so choose. That said, the student part will always be a chapter in your life, perhaps the most important so far, but much more awaits you. You have now completed another chapter in your life, perhaps the most important one so far, but there is more to come.
I want you to think back to your first day, that sense of nervousness as you first set foot here at Dalarna University and how you then spent your time as a student. What will you look back on? Is it all the time you spent with your course books, all the laughter with other students or the exam that you passed despite thinking you wouldn’t?
You all chose to study. Perhaps you wanted to follow a dream, create a future or challenge yourself. The act of studying is in itself a form of knowledge, not just academic. Many of you moved from a new city without knowing anyone. But I hope you gained much more than knowledge. I hope that you made friends for life, that you have grown as individuals and that you filled your days with laughter.
While you were students, you were probably told that it’s fine not to understand or know everything. Now, you have acquired a great deal of knowledge from your studies that you will take with you into working life. But I want to say, dare to fail, dare to dream big and dare to be seen and heard, because I am convinced you will manage everything, even when it might seem impossible. This you have demonstrated: the courage to face the unknown, the power to create change, and the wisdom to value what is important in life. You leave Dalarna University with knowledge, experience and friendships, and these no one can take from you.
Your time as a student is important for the future. Just look around at the friends you have made who will be life-long. Others you may cross paths with, some may be your future colleagues. You all have something in common: this shared moment.
As part of Dalarna’s Student Union, I have had the honour of getting to know some of you a little more. You have been important to us, and you have helped shape us into what we are today, thank you.
In closing, I would like to say, thank you for your time here, for dropping by to say hello and for all our shared conversations. You have been a part of the student union, and I hope we get to meet again so we can learn more from each other.
Eva Elfving, Alumna (Former Student)
Hello, all you amazing new graduates!
I have to start by saying – wow, you have truly succeeded! Proof that you have worked hard and made it through exams, assignments, and late nights. And now you have taken a big step into the future.
My name is Eva Elfving, and I am currently a site and production manager at SSAB in Borlänge. I am also a former Dalarna University student, having studied here in the early 2000s. I remember those years with warmth and joy (the pre-exam stress I have repressed – it’s a good thing time helps us forget). The clearest memory I have is that we helped each other through the tough days and together celebrated our successes. We hung out on campus all day and into the evening, and we did everything together. It was a great time! I hope you have experienced the same wonderful community, made lots of new friends over the years and created many lovely memories.
But now that you are here as graduates, ready to take the next step into working life, I want to give you some advice that I hope you find useful. Because now a new journey is about to begin. And believe me, it's both exciting and a little scary.
But that's totally fine! Here are some tips:
First: Ask for help. I know you are already super talented and have studied your way through every course with flying colours. But here's the truth: no one, and I mean no one, can do everything on their own. So, dare to ask! Not just about the technology and systems used at a workplace, but also about life in general. We all need someone to talk to now and again, and it's okay not to have all the answers right away or know everything from the start. We learn throughout our lives.
Second: You are not alone. It might feel that way sometimes when you're new to a job and feel like the entire world is expecting you to be perfect. But the truth is, everyone has been there, felt the same pressure, doubted themselves and didn't really know what they were doing. So, the next time you feel alone, remember: you’re not! You will have wonderful colleagues who will support and guide you. That has been my experience my entire professional life, and I try to be a role model and pillar of support for all the new people I meet.
Third: Believe in yourself. Now you can stop dreaming and instead take the step towards realising your dreams. Of course, it will feel scary now and then, but believe in yourself and be clear what you want. With curiosity and commitment, you will go far. And if you don't know what you want, try something new! There will be lots of exciting paths to explore.
So, dear students, I just want to say: congratulations! You have worked hard to get here and now you have the whole world ahead of you. Remember, your studies and strong Dalarna University network mean you have a good foundation that will benefit you as you find your path and realise your dreams. We may live in a troubled world, but it is one where you have the power to make a difference. Believe in yourself, believe in each other, and together you can create something great! Congratulations and good luck on all your upcoming adventures!
Emelie Westergren, Conference Host
Final Words
A big thank you for letting us be part of your journey towards your goals and your dreams. We know that the knowledge and experience you take with you will make a difference, whatever your direction in life.
And remember – it is never too late to nourish bread dough! The doors to Dalarna University will always remain open:
- If you ever want to change direction in life, this is the place to start over.
Welcome back as a student! - If you want to address questions or challenges that don't yet have an answer or solution, this is the place to look. Welcome back as a researcher!
- If you want to contribute to the next generation of learning and development, this is the place to do so. Welcome back as an employee!
We want to thank you for choosing to start your journey here, with Dalarna University as your point of departure.
We hope that you will have fond memories of your time here as you go through life and look back on this time with the same pride as we feel today.