Why did you wish to emphasize on the quiz in Sweden India Nobel Memorial?
The Sweden India Nobel Memorial programme was instituted in 2007 in memory of Swedish innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist Alfred Nobel. With innovation as its theme, it celebrates the contribution of both Swedish and Indian Nobel Laureates. Celebrations are spread over a couple of months and the programme will act as a vehicle to showcase the prowess of Swedish companies in India. The Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz, now in its 11th edition, has grown exponentially and is a unique medium to test students’ knowledge on the Nobel Prize & Nobel Laureates, as well as, testing their knowledge on Sweden, its people and culture, innovations and inventions. For us this is of course an excellent way to reach a young talented group of Indian students who read up on Sweden. Hopefully they will get an impetus to explore the opportunities that Sweden has to offer.
What can the students of all age group learn from Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz?
With innovation and research at its core, the quiz celebrates the contribution of both Swedish and Indian Nobel Laureates, along with others. The students who participate and those who take part in the online version of the quiz also learn a lot about Sweden, its people, culture, Swedish companies and Swedish innovations and inventions.
How higher education in Sweden differs from India?
The Swedish education system emphasizes independent, creative and critical thinking. You develop your ability to question the status quo by assessment of various information, seeking new perspectives and coming up with well-informed opinions. The system is less hierarchical and does not emphasize rote learning, which also encourages lateral thinking.
When it comes to career, can Indian students consider Sweden to be a land of opportunities?
Looking at the bilateral relationship between India and Sweden, an interesting aspect that we see are the ever-growing people-to-people relations, that is, people who travel, study and work in the other country. Not only do the 200 Swedish companies in India have representatives live in India but over 50 Indian companies are present in Sweden. And the number of Indians living, studying and working in Sweden has increased rapidly to over 25 000 persons.
The contribution of the Indian diaspora to Swedish society and culture cannot be emphasized enough and is evident not least in the IT and high-tech sectors. Indians form the single largest group of professionals in Sweden coming from outside of Europe. Sweden has one of the most dynamic and innovative tech startup scenes in the world, many companies have become dependent on the skills and experience of young talented Indians. This is a great symbiosis and a good opportunity also for Indian students.
How important is it for universities to impart skill building and practical learning education?
Many degree programmes in Sweden include internships. The master thesis can also be linked to a company/organisation, both of these are good opportunities to gain experience and build a network.
What subjects do students prefer to go and study in Sweden?
Most popular are the master programmes, these can be 1-2 year programs. There are over 900 programmes currently offered in English, and the number is constantly growing. In general Indian students are widely interested in subjects such as industrial design, computer sciences, aeronautics, automotive engineering, robotics, environment sciences.
