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SINEWS

Gothenburg NFGL Local Network launches mobile app for scholarship holders

The Gothenburg NFGL Local Network explains how it has launched a mobile application to ease communication between members and plan events efficiently.

Published: 8 February 2019 15:04 CET
Gothenburg NFGL Local Network launches mobile app for scholarship holders
Photo: Members of the Gothenburg NFGL Local Network

Faced with regular complaints from members about not receiving emails regarding activities, the Gothenburg Local Network embarked on a mission dubbed ‘Operation inform all’ by creating a mobile application ‘NFGL Gothenburg’, currently available on the Google Play store.

The concept of the mobile app was decided as the fastest way for people to navigate information delivered by the network. It is also our unique way of contributing to innovation while studying in Sweden; a country ranked high up the ladder globally in the area of innovation.

This mobile application was developed using the pool of knowledge from the NFGL Gothenburg network. Dr Hassan Auf, a master student in the Department of Public Health and board member, took the responsibility to create the application from scratch.

The app is providing our members with a unique way to get information, book and participate in events, workshops, seminars and visits to companies around Sweden. It also contains information about Sweden and other useful links we thought indispensable for living in Sweden.

Some of the features in this application include:

A blog: our blog enables members to share their individual experiences while living in Gothenburg.

An event calendar: our calendar is the most visited link as all information regarding current and future events is uploaded. Members can select activities that fit their academic schedule and interests.

Access to a community: members can meet and interact with each on other social media platforms.

A list of board members: this contains current and past board members to reach out to.

Useful links: this feature gives you useful information to learn more about Sweden and its values such as innovation, sustainability and equality, to name just a few.

We are currently working on covering all NFGL networks within a single platform to enable scholarship holders to network, connect and attend events in a single click as well as making it available for other mobile app stores.

 

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SINEWS

Lagom: The best way to achieve social health?

Ronoh Philip, who is studying for his masters degree in Infectious Disease Control at Södertörn University, explains why he thinks the Swedish concept of 'lagom' is the best way to achieve good social health.

Published: 23 December 2019 10:24 CET
Lagom: The best way to achieve social health?

During my one week orientation program on August 2019 at Södertörn University, we were presented with many aspects of Swedish culture and practices. One of the new aspects that I learnt was the “lagom culture”, As I quote one of the presenters about applying lagom to our studies, he said: ”Lagom will reduce your stressful burdens of hectic lecture schedules and ensure that you spend equal time of working and socializing in the university.”

So being a student with a background in public health and society, I got interested and searched for the deeper meaning of lagom, and how it can  apply to society and health. I found out that it is a Swedish way of life, it is a concept which means not too much and not too little, just enough. I learnt that it came from a Viking tradition laget om which means 'around the group' and was allegedly used to describe just how much mead or soup one should drink when passing the bowl around in the group.

If this concept is applied to achieve social health goals, it would really fit well. So, what is social health at first? Social health is how you interact with other people and adapt in different situations, it deals with how people in society deal with each other. It is important to note that there is a close link between good social health and improvement of the other aspects of human health, this can lead to the achievement of SDG goal of good health and wellbeing. It also leads to self-satisfaction and happiness; no wonder Sweden is ranked as one the happiest countries in the world. It is ranked 7th in 2019, according to world happiness report. I believe lagom has a big role in this achievement.

In the country where I come from, Kenya, one of the greatest challenges we face in our society, is the ability for people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds to interact and form positive and cohesive relationships with each other. From my perspective, when I finish my studies and return, lagom will be worth implementing in the workplace, the place where I live and the society as whole, as it is the best way of finding simple, attainable solutions to our everyday worries like stress, eating better, having downtime and achieving happiness. It’s a balance of work and life, so everything is in sustainable existence with each other.

My goal during my entire university studies at Södertörn, will be to learn more about the lagom principle and also be able to apply it on our SI NFGL Local Network platform, because it is surely one of the best ways to achieve a good  work-life balance, reaching consensus with my colleagues and adapting a team minded approach in dealing with issues in an organization and the society.