Issuu

EKBLADET

No.4 2025

HO HO HHUS

Umeå Universitet

The Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics student association, HHUS is a volunteer association for all students at the Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics. We are a non-political, non-union, and non-religious association, with the purpose of handling and supporting our members’ interests. We work towards good contact between our members, our school, and Businesses.

HHUSMEDIA

HHUSMEDIA & HHUSINSPARK

HHUS

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 06

Editor in Chief´s notes

Editorial teams Christmas wishes

Mr. President´s Column

Principal´s Column

Education Committee

Rickard Lindberg´s Column

The HHUS Board´s 2025 Wrapped

Editorial Elve´s Holiday Guide

Student-frendly Christmas dinner

Lyko Retail Case Winners

End of Year Survival Guide and Reflection

Finnkampen

Higlights Recap

CONTRIB JoAnna Sundqvist Creative Director

Madison Quigley Vice President HHUS

Lina Vikström Writer & Content creator

Rickard Lindberg Career Center

BUTORS Felicia Fors Editor in Chief HHUS

Eric Back Head Of Education

Nikan Sinaiee President HHUS

Mats Bergman Principal USBE

Editor in Chief´s Notes Felicia Fors Editor in Chief HHUS ekbladet@hhus.se

As the year comes to an end and the holiday spirit slowly settles over campus, it feels almost surreal to write my final words as Editor-in-Chief of Ekbladet. This year has truly been something special. It has been filled with lessons, laughter, late-night sessions working on Ekbladet, and above all: community. Leading Ekbladet has been a journey I’ll carry with me for a long time.

Together, we’ve created more than just a magazine. We’ve built a platform where students can share their voices, find inspiration, and reflect the life we live here at the Business School. Each issue has come to life through creativity, dedication, and a lot of heart from the entire editorial team and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together. Our final issue of the year is about pausing and reflecting. Christmas reminds us to show kindness, to look back on the moments that shaped us. The successes, the challenges, and the little things that ended up meaning the most. Thank you to all the writers, photographers, creators, and readers who have made Ekbladet what it is today. You’ve inspired, challenged, and made this experience one I’ll always remember with warmth and gratitude. With that, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with new opportunities, dreams, and chapters. Both in life and in Ekbladet. With love,

Editor in Chief

Editorials Christmas wishes Now we’re here, at this year’s final edition of Ekbladet from us! It’s been so much fun being part of Ekbladet, and now I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for following along with us this year Best wishes

Another year and another wonderful Christmas. It has been an amazing year to be a part of the editorial group and write articles for all of you to read. I hope all of you have a real time during this holiday. Merry Christmas and happy New Year from Dublin! Best wishes

JoAnna Sundqvist Creative Director

Lina Vikström Writer & Content creator

Mr. President´s Column Meetings, conferences, budgets, travels, meetings, hangouts, pizza from Saba, emails and even MORE UNNECESSARY MEETINGS. That’s been the story of HHUS. Time flies. It was one year ago that the lounge officially became my new home. Now one year later, it feels weird to move back to Tvistevägen. This year has been a year of ups and downs, challenges and a lot of important questions for the future of HHUS.

Nikan Sinaiee President HHUS president@hhus.se

It has been an honour to represent HHUS members in these matters and I can assure you one thing, no matter what goes down HHUS will continue moving forward and creating value for our fantastic members. As President, I’ve had the privilege of seeing something not everyone gets to witness, how much heart sits behind everything we do. Nothing here happens by accident. We have great actively engaged members who dedicate their time and energy for our students. HHUS strives to improve our education, improve our social events and our opportunities and knowledge within the corporate world. The Management of 2025 have achieved these goals by their great efforts for our students. I would like to thank all of our committees and mästerier for your heroic efforts during this tenure. We have seen great improvements in all of our operations, events and structure, which lays the foundation for the upcoming management to succeed. It has been great to see you develop and grow, and I am confident that you will benefit from this experience later on. Lastly I would like to thank all members and the Board of 2025 for this opportunity. Thank you for trusting me with this role, for challenging me and for supporting me throughout the year. HHUS will always have a place in my heart! Happy holidays, a wonderful New Year and Merry Christmas.

President

Principal´s Column Thinking of business education as 2025 draws to its end As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on what we have accomplished together—and what lies ahead.

Year in Review and Future Focus Across the world, the race to build the best LLM continues, shifting geopolitical realities have shaped the year in profound ways and Europe’s political priorities are changing. Competitiveness and resilience are more in focus; sustainability and trade liberalization are getting less attention. Sweden has been experiencing a similar shift in focus. Resilience, competitiveness and military preparedness are top of the agenda. “Impact investments” are not as hot as they used to be. Battery-producer Northvolt was bankrupted before large-scale production could commence and Stegra is having difficulties in financing the completion of its greenfield CO2-friendly steel mill.

Mats Bergman Principal USBE mats.bergman@umu.se These tensions also underline the role of research and education in shaping a well-functioning, innovative, and equitable economy—something USBE has long championed through our scholarship, in our teaching and in collaboration with public and private organizations. As we prepare for the new year, we still focus on deepening our research excellence, particularly in areas relevant to sustainable transformation. We will seek to strengthening collaboration with industry and public actors, both within northern Sweden and internationally. We will continue expanding our international engagement and hence contribute to connecting Umeå and the university more closely with global networks of knowledge.

Most importantly of all, we will continue to develop our educational offer, ensuring that our programs stay current and prepare students for a future filled with complexity, opportunity, and responsibility, while continuing to foster a learning environment that promote curiosity, respect, and community. Finally, to everyone who has contributed to USBE this year—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and At USBE, we have had extra reasons to think about our priorities, partners—thank you! We look forward to continuing as we are set to revise our strategy from January next year. The this journey with you in the year ahead! strategy will be decided by our board, but it appears a safe bet that we will remain focused on sustainability and that we will reinforce Mats Bergman our commitment to academic integrity, ethical awareness, and evDean, USBE idence-based analysis and decision-making. To develop responsible leaders with a global perspective feels more relevant than ever! And Västerbotten and Norrbotten still have strong ecosystems for innovation and entrepreneurship and northern Sweden may yet become a model for sustainable economic development. For USBE, our research in business administration, economics and statistics, and our collaboration with regional stakeholders, position us to contribute to knowledge that will guide this development. Global tensions and economic uncertainty have only reminded us of our responsibility as educators of future leaders.

Standing at the Threshold: Reflections from the Head of Education 2025 Holiday Feelings The year 2025 is rapidly coming to a close and the holiday season is creeping in, and I’m once again starting to dread hearing Mariah Carey blasting through every mall and store. Still, I’m very much looking forward to a short break- going home and spending time with my family, relatives, and of course, my cats.

A Year of Endings, And Beginnings

Eric Back Head of Education head.education@hhus.se

As the year wraps up, I suddenly find myself standing on the precipice of the end of my time as Head of Education. At the same time, I’m in my seventh semester and about to begin my eighth and final semester of the Service Management program. Several chapters of my life, the ones that have shaped who I am, are closing all at once. It leaves me wondering what the future has in store. Hopefully it holds a lot of fun and exciting memories to look back on decades from now. What I do know is this: this year has been the highlight of my time at Umeå University. I want to look back for a moment. The experiences, the lessons, and the people I have met this year - the conversations we have had, the ideas we have shared, and the challenges we have worked through together - have changed me more than I could have ever imagined at the beginning of this year. Together, they have made me even more certain about what I want to do after graduation. My fascination with the kind of strategic work you do as a board member started long before I came to Umeå, back when I was a kid listening in on my parents’ meetings during sick days and throughout the pandemic. Even then, they were working with a bird’s-eye view, painting the bigger picture and then working to turn that picture into reality. I was hooked. So when the time came to choose an education and decide the direction I wanted my professional life to take, there was only one direction that felt right for me.

Putting Theory into Practice At the start of my studies, I was convinced I would have to wait years before I could put theory into practice and actually work with the things that inspired me to apply in the first place. I was wrong. The work and opportunities I have had through HHUS, especially in my role as Head of Education 2025, have given me the chance to do exactly that, and they have only strengthened my certainty about the path I want to follow going forward.

Looking Forward The future is uncertain and will remain that way, just as it always has. But armed with the treasure trove of knowledge and experience this year has given me, both from HHUS and from my studies, I feel confident. Standing a little straighter. Moving toward the unknown with a sense of optimism I would not have had otherwise. I do not know where I will end up; none of us do. But I am heading forward with purpose. I sincerely hope you feel the same about yourself as well. To you who are reading this: I hope your future is filled with opportunity, warmth, and people who make the tough days a little easier and the good days even better.

Happy Holidays Eric Back, Head of Education 2025

What do we wish for in 2026? Okay, maybe not a completely free wish in this little column, so to narrow down, what do we wish for in terms of career-related content on campus for 2026? The arena is thus partly set but you are welcome to challenge me. The possible menu apart from myself as a resource for career related dialoges are alumni, other guests, companies, focus areas, workshop topics, case training, competitions, etc. So, what would be of most interest in 2026?

Evolving role of marketing agencys

Rickard Lindberg Career Center USBE rickard.linberg@umu.se

AI from Sogetis horizon CV/Cover letter session in english

Banking meets IT Leadership career perspectives from alumni venturing in to purpose led startup.

This autumn has from the career center side given input on:

Mentorship with alumni (this is where time got scarce but hopefully up and running when you read this)

Currency trading and sales in the financial industry

Case competition in retail hosted by Handelsrådet and Lyko

Career Center workhop for 2nd year undergraduate programs

Self leadership from the horizon of a prized alumni

Some feedback from alumni visits;

-A really good alumni lecture, good mix of personal experiences, facts and tips for us students! -The alumni lecture gave a lot of energy and a desire to do that little extra to drive your future. Very inspiring, personal and well adapted for us students.

What is AI doing to us?

I recently read a critical chronicle in “Dagens Nyheter” on AI. This excerpt targets in some reclections that might be worth a minute to zoom in on. “….the problem with AI is not that it makes us too cocky and critical - but on the contrary, too anxious and easily led. Too unsure of our own abilities to not only conduct independent analyses, but even dare to make relationship decisions, write emails or plan restaurant visits without first consulting our supportive big brother i.e.. Chat GPT. We put our trust in this "authority", time and again, even though we know that it engages in a lot of random guesswork. But it sounds so... confident. And it is methodically robbing us of our own self-confidence. Talk about an unhealthy relationship that is getting harder to leave every day.”

AI generated Image

A philosophical question from this is; What happens to us as learning human beings if we do not think ourselves first but leave the “thoughts and input” to be made by AI. What approach do you use yourself, own thoughts and analysis first and complement with AI or just AI?

Scenario planning and ESG focus, something to aim for?

I read a recent Nordic CFO survey (no scientific research thus) on the everyday challenges they see. Excel still seems to roam and gut feel still has its role since lack of reliant data is still an issue (or data in separate silos). Manual data double checking also seems to be a time consuming task. So what is the wish list for CFO:s then?

Closer connection between the finance function and operations

Scenario planning (only 10-20% feel well equipped in that area)

¼ wants more time for risk modelling and ESG-work

Have more time for strategic work vs control.

Some CFO quotes from the survey:

“Forecasting is difficult these days. Even if you have a handle on the data, it is difficult to forecast a quarter ahead given macroeconomic uncertainties and a rapidly changing world.” “Spend time with colleagues in management to talk about where the world is headed and how it affects the business. Consensus makes it easier to talk about what we should do to make the business better.” “The ability to quickly create and adjust future scenarios becomes a competitive advantage”

Active External monitoring/market intelligence (omvärldsbevakning) thus seem to be a relevant skill to build along side cross functional dialogues and agility.

Are we measuring the right things? Finance Sustainability professional Sasja Beslik, former sustainability manager at Nordea and now Chief Investment Strategy Officer at SDG Impact Japan is a recurrent strong voice for a more sustainable financial industry. He has also been a guest lecturer at the business school. I lend in some current input on this issue. Did you know that Swedish banks cause more carbon dioxide emissions through their loans and investments than the whole of Sweden does? And that these emissions are not included in Sweden’s climate goals? This is one of the biggest blind spots in Swedish climate policy – a silent zone where money is allowed to negatively affect the climate without anyone taking responsibility.

By comparison, the territorial emissions of the whole of Sweden amount to around 45 million tons. Swedish banks’ lending and investments therefore cause over eight times more emissions than the whole country – but they are not included in the climate goals. Is this something you are aware of and what are your thoughts on the issue? I summarize this chronicle with the usual music tip and a newsletter to look in on. In esgonasunday you can read more input from Sasja Beslik that addresses Issues in sustainable finance.

Music wise I have a bit of an odd pick that I might return to next time. Partly odd for the reason it has some summer reggae wibes in According to a review by Fair Finance Guide (2024), the middle of winter but also odd for other the combined financed emissions from the four largest reason. Anyhow, tune in on “Soul to Soul” by Swedish banks – Swedbank, SEB, Handelsbanken and “Let Babylon burn” and lean back for a moment. Nordea – amount to over 370 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Oh, and by the way, new email from me/ Career Center so now I hope you keep a lookout for career.usbe@umu.se and as always you are welcome to contact me at rickard.lindberg@umu.se when you want to discuss initiatives for activities, personal development opportunities, job considerations and the future labor market.

The HHUS Board´s 2025 Wrapped As 2025 comes to an end, the HHUS Board looks back on a year filled with growth, challenges, and countless unforgettable moments. Here’s what they have to say about the journey – and what they hope for 2026.

We asked the board of 2025 three questions below. 1. What were the top 3 moments of this year? 2. What is the biggest lesson learnt this year? 3. Can you give a short reflection of the year?

Nikan Sinaiee, President Top 3 moments of this year U9 Umeå, Welcoming the new students, UWC Football The biggest lesson learnt of the year The art of delegating A short reflection of the year HHUS continues to grow and it has been fun to be at the helm during this calendar year. It has been fantastic to see so many dedicated economics students working together to create value for HHUS members.

Madison Quigley, vice president Top 3 moments of this year 1. Management Handover Spex with the Board 2. Meeting so many incredible and new people that I would not have otherwise met had I not been engaged in HHUS this year. Watching everyone grow in their roles personally and professionally! 3. Amazing Race! This was so fun to have fun, meet new members, see our incredible members so engaged, and learn more about what our members may want out of their experience in HHUS! Biggest lesson learnt of the year Learning to ask for help! Learning that not everything can be done at once. Making a difference does not have to be something extravagant that everyone notices, it often happens slowly over time accomplished through the little details that happen behind the scenes! A short reflection of the year This year was a rollercoaster full of meeting incredible people, and making a difference together with everyone in HHUS. I learned that growth does not just come from doing, but from leaning on others, creating space for joy/fun, while navigating the balance between ambitious goals, and everyday needs! It has been my pleasure working alongside all actively engaged members and “loaning” HHUS for this past year, I will miss it, but cannot wait to see what 2026 Board/actively engaged members have planned for all us members! 16

Sofia Forsberg, Board advisor Top three moments of the year 1. Sitting with the board and selecting the management team for 2025! No matter how difficult the decisions were, we did it together, and in the end, it turned out really well! 2. The finance trip was incredibly fun! We got to connect with other HHUS members and visit some truly fascinating companies. 3. Working on a project that hasn’t been revealed yet, but will be very soon, and will hopefully have a big impact on the student culture we’re building here! The biggest lesson learnt of the year It’s okay to make mistakes, you learn from them and become a stronger person. You’re never alone in anything; we always have each other’s backs. Short reflection of the year Never underestimate someone’s work. Everyone always does their best, and no matter what you see on the surface, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Elin Pipkorn, Head of Social Top 3 moments of the year 1. Introduction sitting 2. The rookies start off with a bang! 3. UWC (rosa väggen!) and the gasque!! The biggest lesson learnt of the year I would say to be open-minded and listen to all opinions, even though they might be different from my own A short reflection of the year I am beyond grateful for this year! My committee has gone over and beyond to make sure all of you will get the best events possible, but also a big thank you to all of our members who make all the events memorable!

Alva Bandling, Head of Economy Top 3 moments of the year 1. Renovating the lounge 2. All the fun sittningar 3. Gaining both experience and new friends. The biggest lesson learnt of the year. The importance of clear communication and trusting the team, things always flow better when everyone is aligned. A short reflection of the year This year has been full of learning, challenges, and collaboration. I’m proud of what we have achieved together, and I’m fully convinced that the next head of the economy will continue to develop the committee. 17

Max Davidsson, Head of E-puben Top 3 moments of the year 1. Insparken 2. Outside troubadour / Masked Singer 3. Sweden's qualifier game The biggest lesson learnt of the year

Together you can do anything. Short reflection of the year This year has been the most active year on E-pub and we are really happy to have handled all events, that has been really appreciated by the members. This has also shown in the big difference in sales on E-puben, with our continuous work to improve every aspect. Much of the work that also do, is not visible for the members, behind the curtains we are cooking. (Literally).

Havin Colak, Head of business Top three moments of the year Management recruitment Board handover sittning U9 The biggest lesson learnt of the year You’ll meet many people who are very different from you, and one of the most important lessons to learn is that not everyone operates on the same emotional level. It’s valuable to recognize this and adjust your communication style to match different levels of emotional intelligence. Short reflection of the year It’s been such a meaningful journey, I’ve grown so much in realizing that the world isn’t just black and white, and I’ve learned to feel confident in my own abilities. I’ve also met so many incredible people, and I’m truly grateful to have shared this year with them. Ending So from the board to all of you,

happy Christmas and happy New Year!

Hill Mondonedo, Head of Marketing Top three moments of the year Spex at management handover sitting marketing x business laserdome U9 sittning The biggest lesson learnt of the year Sometimes it's smarter to just smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave. Short reflection of the year A year full of achievements but also challenges, which have helped us hone our skills

Eric Back, Head of Education Top 3 moments: 1. Creating a new event together with the Vice Head of Education and rest of the Education Committee- Studies Meet Reality. 2. The Education Committee's first committee hangout when we went bowling together. 3. Finnkampen 2025. Biggest lesson of this year Make sure to keep up with your recreational activities and take the time necessary to do it- especially when you feel like you don't have the time. Short reflection of the year Getting to work with so many committed and inspiring people this year within the board, the Education Committee and HHUS Management has been my privilege. What has been accomplished this year has been nothing short of amazing.

Editorial Elves´ Holiday guide As the year comes to a close, we at the Ekbladet team would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has been a fantastic year, filled with many good memories. During the Christmas season, we spend time with friends and family, watching movies, and enjoying some Christmas candy. Here are some things we are looking at and eating during Christmas time.

Christmas Movies Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Rise of the Guardians (2012) is an animated fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Ramsey and based on William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood book series. The movie is about how a group of mythical figures, including Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandy, and Jack Frost, need to assemble to fight back against Pitch, who turns children’s dreams into nightmares. Now, the five guardians need to fight Pitch at the same time the children stop believing in them.

A boy called Christmas (2021)

A Boy Called Christmas is a 2021 British Christmas fantasy film directed by Gil Kenan. The movie is about the 13-year-old Nikolas and his father, Joel, a woodcutter, who live in the forest. Nikolas’s mother had died a few years earlier, and Nikolas tries to take comfort every night by remembering the legend of a place called Elfhelm, where a girl found a magical place inhabited by elves that helped her to survive the winter. One night, a mouse tries to steal some food, but his life is spared by Nikolas, who calls the mouse Miika and tries to teach him to speak.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

The Christmas Chronicles is a fantasy, adventure, and comedy movie about the two siblings, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about. 22

Christmas Candy Ice Chocolate

Ingredients 200 g coconut fat 200g dark chocolate Small aluminium foil moulds Do this 1. Melt the coconut fat in a saucepan. Coarsely chop the chocolate and add it to the coconut fat, stirring vigorously until the chocolate has melted. 2. Pour the batter into the moulds using a jug. Let them sit in the cold until they have set. Ischoklad | Recept ICA.se

Brända Mandlar (Roasted Almonds) Ingridients 200 g sweet almonds 1 1/2 dl granulated sugar 1/2 dl water

Do this 1. Toast the almonds in a dry frying pan until they start to brown, about 5 minutes. 2. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a wide saucepan (at least about 25 cm in diameter). Let it boil until the sugar has dissolved. 3. Add the almonds and cook until they become dry and candied. Stir occasionally. Let the sugar start to melt slightly and stir so that it sticks together. 4. Pour the almonds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let cool. 5. Store in an airtight jar.

Christmas Games

Charader game You have played charades before. Everyone writes down the names of famous people, animals, or characters that the whole group knows on some slips of paper. All the slips are then placed in a large bowl or similar container, and then you play against each other in teams, in pairs, or three against three. The game consists of three rounds, where each team has 30 seconds to guess what is written on the slip. If your teammate figures out what is written on the slip, you get to keep that slip and score a point for it. When the 30 seconds are up, the next team gets to guess. It continues like this until all the slips are used.’ Round 1 The goal is to explain in words who or what is written on the slip of paper. You may not mention the person’s name on the slip. After round 1, all slips are placed back in the bowl, and then round 2 begins. Round 2 In this round, you may not speak, but only use pantomime. Since you already know what is on the slips from round 1, it becomes a little easier to guess. After round 2, you place all the slips back in the bowl again, and then it’s time for round 3. Round 3 In this round, you may only say one word (but of course not the person’s name). The team that has collected the most points after these three rounds wins! Christmas Scavenger Hunt A Christmas scavenger hunt is a perfect way to get everyone up and moving while igniting some friendly competition. So, how exactly does one play this beloved holiday game? First, hide Christmas-themed items around your party space. Next, create a list of items for players to find. Divide your group into teams or have each player compete individually. Give them the list and set them loose to search for the items. The goal is to find all the items on the list before anyone else. The first person Name That Christmas Tune Test your friends’ or family members’ knowledge of holiday songs with Name That Christmas Tune. This fast-paced game is the perfect way to bring some festive competition to your Christmas party. Gather a group of friends or family members and play a few seconds of a Christmas song. The first person to correctly guess the title wins a point. With each round, the songs get more challenging, building up to a grand finale where the ultimate Christmas music champion is crowned. Christmas Movie Pictionary This is the perfect game to brighten up your Christmas gatherings and bring a dose of laughter and creativity to the festivities. Imagine gathering around the fireplace, hot cocoa in hand, as you and your loved ones attempt to guess classic Christmas movies through the lens of a talented (or not-so-talented) artist. The rules are simple: players take turns drawing Christmas-themed movie titles while their team tries to guess the correct one. Unlike charades, players use their artistic skills to convey the film instead of acting it out. This adds an extra layer of fun and challenge to the game, as players must think creatively to represent iconic holiday films through drawings. 25

Student-friendly Christmas dinner With Christmas around the corner, we all begin to think about Christmas presents and the Christmas food. As students, we want to find some cheaper recipes. Here are some recipes that you might test this Christmas with your family and friends.

Sauce

Hovmästarsås 4 portions Integredience 2 tbsp (msk) Swedish mustard 1 tbsp (msk) Dijon mustard 1 tbsp (msk) granulated sugar 1/2 tsp (tsk) salt 1 tsp (krm) pinch of black pepper 1 tbsp (msk) white wine vinegar 200 dl of oil 100 dl chopped dill Pepper (optional)

Preparation 1. Mix together the two types of mustard, sugar, salt, pepper, and vinegar. 2. Add the oil drop by drop or in a thin stream while stirring vigorously so that the sauce becomes thick. Using an electric whisk works perfectly. 3. Add chopped dill and feel free to season with freshly ground pepper.

Hovmästarsås | Recept ICA.se

Main Course - Ribs

Tjocka revben i ugn med ingefärsglaze (Oven-baked thick ribs with ginger glaze) Ingredients 4 portions Ribs 2 yellow onions about 1 kg of thick pork ribs 15 black pepper corns 2 tsp salt 3 bay leaves 2 meat bouillon cubes

Preparation Ribs 1. Peel & cut the onions. Place the meet together with the onion, peppercorns, salt, bay leaves and crumbled stock cubes in a pot. 2. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Skim off the foam. Simmer the ribs for 2 and a half hours. Add a little more water occasionally if needed, making sure the meat is covered at all times.

Ginger glaze

4 tbsp grated fresh ginger 1 dl concentrated orange juice 1/2 dl liquid honey 1 tbsp Japanese soy sauce

Preparation 1. Peel and grate the ginger. 2. Bring the orange juice and honey to boil. Let it simmer together for 4-5 minutes. Add the soy sauce and ginger and bring to a boil again. 3. Set the oven to 225 celsius. 4. Brush the cooked ribs thoroughly with about half of the glaze and place them in an ovenproof dish. 5. Place the dish in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes, turning the meat occasionally. Brush generously with the remaining glaze. 6. Done!

Recipe & Picture ICA.se

g! n i k o co

Good luck with

Dessert

Caramel apples Ingridients 8 small, hard apples 8 short wooden skewers 3 dl water 3 dl granulated sugar 1 tbsp glucose syrup or glucose 2 tsp red food colouring

Preparation

1. Rinse and dry the apples thoroughly. Oil a baking sheet. Remove the apple stems and insert a skewer into each apple. 2. Bring water, sugar, and glucose syrup to a boil, and simmer for 10–20 minutes until the mixture turns light brown. (Drop a little of the mixture into cold water; if it hardens, it is ready.) Stir in the caramel colouring. 3. Tilt the saucepan so that you can dip the apples in, turn them a few times and let them harden on the baking sheet. 27

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End of Year Survival Guide and Reflection Here you will find a guide for surviving end of year exams, while balancing the joys of the holidays. As students we can be both festive and a bit stressed at the same time! This year has been full of lessons, some of which I have not found the time to reflect upon through the stress and chaos of balancing my schedule. When the holidays come around I remember just how important it is to take a moment to look back on what has been learned, to be present, and to think about where it is I want to go. I encourage each of you to find time to reflect on the past year, and what is coming next! Through this guide you will find some tips, quizzes, and recipes to get through the last stretch of the year and reflect on your hopes of the future!

Tips to Get Through December

1. Most get asked the question this time of year your plans for the future, which can be a daunting question! Perhaps it is something you have already considered in great detail. In that case you are a master at answering this question! If not, be honest with where you are at on your thoughts for the future. You may be exploring your options of what is next, use this as a moment to imagine what you want your future to look like in as much detail as you can see!

As students living on a budget you may begin to feel the stress of gifts for friends or family. Create a budget and stay within your budget! There are alternative options than traditional gifts this time of year. Create a low-cost DIY present that shows effort and expresses care! Gifts do not need to be fancy and expensive! Write a handmade card, heartfelt, humorous, or something to reflect your relationship to the person. Plan quality time with the people you care about. Time is invaluable and will always be a gift. If you want them to have something to unwrap you can create a coupon outlining a day spent together!

Lastly living somewhere that is dark and cold makes the end-of-year studies a balancing act of not only prioritizing schoolwork, but also finding ways to create light and warmth for yourself. Be sure to go outside to reset your mind. Take breaks to re-energize. And remind yourself it is the last stretch before the new year!

Christmas Quiz, a time to reflect! Question 1: Which Swedish Christmas treat are you? A) Pepparkakor (classic, crisp, and full of spice; resilient under pressure.) B) Lussekatter (warm, golden, and comforting; you bring light to dark days.) C) Knäck (strong; you hold things together even when life gets tough.) D) Julskum (playful, soft, and fun; you don’t take yourself too seriously.)

Question 2: Which holiday tradition matches your study habits? A) Decorating the tree (organized, and detail-oriented.) B) Wrapping gifts last-minute (procrastinator, but somehow it all works out.) C) Watching Christmas movies (laid-back, prefers vibes over stress.) D) Baking lussekatter (hands-on learner, thrives when actively doing things.)

Question 3: How do you survive family questions about your future? A) Answer politely and redirect with a different question. B) Give vague but hopeful answers. C) Joke your way out of it. D) Change the subject saying you cannot wait for homemade treats!

Question 4: What did you learn most this year? A) Planning ahead makes everything smoother. B) The people around me matter most. C) Energy boosts (like coffee) keep me going. D) Rest is the secret weapon I often forget.

Question 5: What’s in your Christmas Survival Kit? A) Coffee and sticky notes. B) Candles and playlists. C) Chocolate and cozy socks. D) Humor and resilience. 33

Outcomes Mostly A’s: The Pepparkakor Planner You’re crisp, classic, and resilient. Like pepparkakor, you thrive under pressure and keep things sharp. Organization is your strength, and you’ll carry that into the new year.

Mostly B’s: The Lussekatt Dreamer You’re warm, comforting, and bring light to others especially in dark times. You may procrastinate, but your creativity and kindness shine through.

Mostly C’s: The Knäck Joker You’re sweet, and strong. You hold things together with humor and resilience, even when life gets tough. You’ll carry laughter and grit into the future.

Mostly D’s: The Julskum Connector You’re playful, soft, and fun. You value togetherness and joy, reminding everyone that life isn’t just about grades it’s about people, memories, and balance.

Everyone has their own Christmas traditions and family recipes this time of year! In my family we have elf on a shelf that has special Christmas powers, and a pickle ornament that you try to hide in the tree for no one to find! But you may find life too needs its own recipes, take the time to create your own recipes, reflect on the ingredients, and make instructions on how this recipe will come to fruition! Recipe for a Successful School Recipe for Staying Connected with Friends Year Ingredients: 2 cups of determina- Ingredients: Weekly checktion, 1 pinch of courage, 3 spoons ins, shared playlists, spontaneous trips, memes. laughter, and a side of endless Instructions: Stir regularly, coffee. Instructions: Mix with patience, never let bonds simmer too long. bake slowly, serve with pride.

Recipe for Future Dreams Ingredients: Curiosity, ambition, kindness, resilience. Instructions: Prep the ingredients early with care, season with hope, garnish with gratitude.

As the year comes to an end I hope your survival kit is full, your recipes go as planned, and your quiz results remind you that as the future approaches you will be ready and ready tackle on new challenges as they arise! For me this year I hoped to grow and be challenged, to also be a part of things that are larger than myself. It will be strange to no longer be engaged in HHUS after the holiday break, but I cannot wait to see what 2026 has in store together, and with the utmost faith in the 2026 HHUS Board and Management team to help create moments and memories for our wonderful members! Cheers to the next chapter, may you all make lasting memories, and soak up the time you have with those that you love this holiday season! Another thing you cannot buy this time of year is reflection. Take a moment to pause, be present, acknowledge how far you have come, and allow yourself to dream about where you are going! Survival is not about getting through this season but carrying forward lessons into the new year!

By Madison Quigley

Finnkampen This year Finnkampen was hosted in Umeå, where it all began. Our friends from Vaasa joined HHUS for a cold, dark but laughter-filled femkamp at Campusängarna, rounded off with dinner at Rött. The next day, participants grabbed their gift bags before heading to randomised pre-parties, and the weekend ended with a lively sittning at our beloved E-puben where Finnkampen 2023 made a comeback. The Education Committee also introduced a new tradition with the Finnkampen winner trophy. Sadly, HHUS did not win this year, but we are very grateful to everyone who joined and are already eager to reclaim it in Vaasa 2026. More pictures will be available on the Education webpage on hhus.se soon!

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