UHI Institute for Northern Studies Welcomes Academic Delegation from Malmö University
The UHI Institute for Northern Studies is delighted to welcome staff and students from Malmö University in Sweden to Orkney from 8th to 11th October 2025. This will be their third visit to Orkney following successful visits in 2023 and 2024.
Through a program of field visits, seminars, lectures, and discussions, the focus of the visit will be on utilising cultural heritage and history to enhance the tourism industry in both Sweden and Orkney. The overall goal is to explore potential research avenues for the future and develop lines of inquiry that will lead to concrete research projects informing local, regional, and national policy.
The schedule begins with a visit to St Magnus Cathedral, where students will explore how the cathedral has been utilised by various communities over time. They will examine how different groups are represented in the cathedral's story and discuss the varying perspectives on the site. The focus will be on understanding the cathedral as a living piece of cultural heritage and how the balance between tourism and other uses of the site is maintained. Following this visit, a field excursion to the Orkney Museum will take place, followed by a lecture on Cultural Heritage and Social Processes by Dr Steve Timoney Programme Leader at UHI Perth, and a seminar to discuss the day's findings.
The final day includes a field excursion to explore the Mainland of Orkney. This excursion will focus on three significant time periods in Orkney's history: the Neolithic era, the Viking Age, and the Modern period. Students will investigate the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maeshowe and Earl's Bu, while also learning about polar exploration, herring fishing, and World War II in the town of Stromness.
Director UHI Institute for Northern Studies, Professor Donna Heddle said, “We are delighted to welcome staff and students from Malmö University once again to Orkney. The UHI Institute for Northern Studies has established strong links with Malmö University through an ongoing memorandum of understanding, and it is encouraging to see that their visit to Orkney further strengthens this academic collaboration. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the bonds between our universities. Through engaging field visits, inspiring seminars, lively lectures, and enriching discussions, we'll explore how cultural heritage and history can be leveraged to boost the tourism industry and further economic development in both Sweden and Orkney. ”
Stefan Nyzell, Associate Professor in the Department of Society, Culture, and Identity at Malmö University, stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for both staff and research students to explore the rich cultural heritage of Orkney and understand how the region has successfully developed its heritage industry within the context of tourism. Additionally, this will allow us to strengthen our connections between the two universities and explore new avenues for collaborative research.”