University nominated for prestigious prize

”The University of Gävle’s campaign "Maximise your potential" is taking part in the prestigious internationalcompetition Epica Awards 2016. Fantastic that our campaign has even had such an impact internationally,” says Maria Åstrand Swenneke, communications officer responsible.

Maximise your potential – the idea of using Einstein

Over the last four years the "Maximise your potential" campaign has used Einstein as spokesperson.
The idea of using Einstein is to demonstrate that whoever you are, you can go one step further. The University of Gävle can help you to develop as an individual and we really believe that education, as such, can help you make your dreams come true.

”Maria Åstrand Swenneke does a phenomenal job there at the university and I would also like to mention the previous head of communications Johan Ahlgren, who started the project. You have some very competent people in your communications department,” says Nils Vahlund, responsible for the campaign at the advertising agency Lundberg & Co.

The higher education institute that expands the most

With regard to first hand applications to programmes, these are on the increase at the University of Gävle, and amongst all the institutes of higher education it is the one where these are increasing the most.

“I definitely think that the communication has affected this to some extent. The impact of the campaign has been great and almost half of those who have seen the films on Facebook have chosen to interact in some way, by sharing, commenting and clicking on likes,” says Maria Åstrand Swenneke.

“We have declared that the University of Gävle should communicate with its target audience, using the language of that target group. It is also a very positive campaign where we talk to the young people on their own terms.”

Epica Awards

The Epica Awards, which is based in Paris, France, will be announced on Thursday the 17^th November. Epica Awards is an established competition within the fields of communication and marketing that started back in 1987.

“To qualify for a nomination means that you are one of the brands in an international context that has made its mark, because the communication used has stuck out both creatively and positively in a way that distinguishes itself from others,” says Nils Vahlund.

“There are very few institutes of higher education that dare to communicate with the students on their own terms and via their own technical devices. I think that is why they have been nominated. We hope that the University feels very proud, and realises that they have done the right thing now that is has been given so much international attention in this way,” says Nils Vahlund.

Here are the four films from the University of Gävle’s campaign that are taking part in the Epica Awards 2016:

For further information, please contact:
Maria Åstrand Swenneke, Communications Officer at the Department for Communications and Strategic Partnerships at the University of Gävle
Tel: 026-64 85 35
Email: maria.astrand_swenneke@hig.se

Nils Vahlund, project leader at Lundberg &Co
Tel: 026-10 33 22, 072-521 95 42
Email: nils@lundberg-co.com

Text: Douglas Öhrbom