Desmond Tutu speaking at ISFiT 2009. Photo: ISFiT/Fotogjengen ved Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem

The world’s largest thematic student festival

Last updated: 09/06/2010 // ISFiT, the world’s largest thematic student festival, held in Trondheim, Norway in February 2011 has now opened for applications. The main topic of ISFiT 2011 is Global Health.

Among several internationally recognised Norwegian conferences and festivals, ISFiT – the International Student Festival in Trondheim, is a favorite of students from all corners of the globe. The ten day long event is a dynamic meeting place where dedicated student participants meet distinguished speakers and artists from all over the world and work together on matters of international relevance.

The popular festival is run by more than 400 local student volunteers and offers a broad selection of workshops, plenary sessions and cultural events. It is arranged every second year and has since its beginning in 1990 grown to include over 450 participants from more than 100 countries.

Norwegian artist Magnet performing in Trondheim's famous Nidarosdomen Cathedral during ISFiT 2009. Photo: ISFiT/Fotogjengen ved Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates return to Norway

Aiming at being a place where the leaders of today meet the leaders of tomorrow, ISFiT invites world leaders to Trondheim. Several Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have come back to the Prize's host country to discuss global challenges with the diverse group of ISFiT participants. In 2009, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi and Betty Williams all visited the 10^th edition of the festival. His Holiness Dalai Lama, Dr. José Ramos Horta and Professor Wangari Maathai are also on the list of former prominent guest, along with Norwegian international personalities such as Gro Harlem Brundtland, Jan Egeland, Eva Joly and Johan Galtung. The key speakers of ISFiT 2011 have not been announced yet.

Global Health

ISFiT is now inviting students to apply for participation in the workshops of the 11th edition of the festival, which will take place in February 2011. The thematic focus is on global health.

Focusing on the international dimension of health issues, ISFiT 2011 wishes to highlight both the challenges and the opportunities that different parts of the world are facing – both today and in the future. A central question for the festival is what role students can, and should, play in dealing with these issues. The workshops focus on various aspects of the main topic, and themes range from development and aid to arts, sport or literature.

A peace initiative

With its now well-established Dialogue Groups ISFiT also joins the Norwegian tradition of work for peace and reconciliation. The ISFiT Dialogue Groups gather students from different sides of conflicts to meet on equal grounds in a neutral environment, aiming to develop mutual understanding and friendship through dialogue and social activities. Previously, being part of the Dialogue Groups has led to participants initiating similar dialogue seminars between youth in their home countries.

ISFiT participants at the ISFiT 2009 Ski Day. Photo: ISFiT/Fotogjengen ved Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem

How to apply

If you are a student and at least 18 years old at the time of the festival you may apply for participation in the workshops or the Dialogue Groups. Participants who are unable to finance their travel costs can apply for travel support from ISFiT. The application deadline is 30 September 2010. Information about how to apply may be found on the festival’s homepage. All inquiries regarding ISFiT 2011 should be sent directly to the organisers.

Photo: ISFiT

Share on your network |

Did You Know?

The title of the first ISFiT in 1990 was A Changing Europe, and the organisers booked two trains for the participants, one from Paris in the West and one from Budapest in the East, to transport the students to Trondheim. ISFiT 1990 was one of the first places where students from both sides of the Iron Curtain spoke to one another after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The award ceremony of the Student Peace Prize is one of the major events that take place during ISFiT. The Student Peace Prize is awarded every second year on behalf of all Norwegian students to a student or a student organisation that has made a significant contribution to creating peace and promoting human rights.

Trondheim is home to around 169 000 inhabitants. But if we count the large number of students (every sixth inhabitant is a student) the population increases to 180 000. Much thanks to NTNU (the Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Trondheim's internationally renowned university, Trondheim is called the nation's technological capital.