KI-Africa student network hosted their first event together with the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health
On 1 June, the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) and the KI-Africa Student Network co-organised their first joint event — a summer afterwork at Karolinska Institutet. Under the theme "Connect for Sustainable Health," the evening brought together students, researchers, and colleagues from across KI for networking, knowledge exchange, and cross-cultural connection, inspired by the Sweden–Uganda partnership at the heart of CESH.
An evening for connection
Guests were welcomed with a mingle session before moving through a series of engaging activities. Tobias Alfvén opened with a presentation on CESH, introducing the centre's mission and ongoing work to attendees who may have been encountering it for the first time. This was followed by a presentation from the KI-Africa Student Network, highlighting the network's role in connecting students from across the African continent studying at KI.
A group Kahoot quiz brought energy and laughter to the room. The evening then transitioned into interactive stations — including a world map activity that visualised the geographic breadth of KI's global connections, and "Ideas & Interviews" stations designed to spark deeper conversations about sustainable health and future collaborations.
Bridging two continents
CESH was established through a partnership between Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Makerere University in Uganda, with the mission to develop capacity and mobilise actions towards achieving sustainable health. The summer afterwork reflects that spirit directly — creating a space where KI students with roots across the African continent could meet the broader KI research community in an informal, welcoming setting.
The KI-Africa Student Network played a central role in shaping the event, and the student organisers from both groups were instrumental in making the evening a success. Their energy, creativity, and commitment to building inclusive spaces were evident throughout.
About the KI-Africa Student Network
The KI-Africa Student Network connects students from across the African continent studying at Karolinska Institutet, fostering community, exchange, and collaboration within the KI environment.
About CESH
The Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH) is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Makerere University, Uganda. CESH welcomes researchers, students, and staff interested in sustainable health and global collaboration to join as members or collaborators.
Looking ahead
Given the enthusiasm from participants and the natural alignment between CESH's mission and the KI-Africa Student Network's community, there is strong interest in making this an annual tradition.
Text and film by Xenia Hartvigsson