Leeds Trinity University welcomed the 62nd cohort of students from Ume University, Sweden onto campus this week, marking 25 years of partnership with the Swedish university.

Since 1994, the University has welcomed trainee primary, secondary and sixth form teachers from Ume University to take part in a two-week teacher training course. The course enables students to experience studying and living abroad, develop their understanding of English language and culture, visit local schools and explore the Yorkshire region. ?

The partnership was set up by Simon Green, Educational Consultant at Challenging Ideas, who previously worked as Director of Development Services at Leeds Trinity University. With a background teaching modern languages in secondary schools, Simon wanted to encourage international partnership at the University through language learning.

He visited Ume University in April 1994 to promote the benefits of international teacher training and language learning at Trinity and All Saints College, as Leeds Trinity was then known. Since then, more than 1,000 Swedish students have participated in the partnership, benefitting from training abroad, learning another language and living in a different country with a host family.

Reflecting on the last 25 years of partnership, Simon said: "I'm enormously proud of the link that we established between Leeds Trinity University and Ume University, and am enormously thankful to everyone involved over the last 25 years - the host families, colleagues in support services, teaching staff and Leeds Trinity students who have welcomed and integrated with the Swedish students.

"In two weeks, they get such a rich experience of school, university, training, family life and culture - that will stay with them for a long time, and they will go on to use in their teaching back in Sweden."

Carol and Dennis Lee have hosted trainee teachers from Ume University since the partnership was set up in 1994. They said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed hosting students throughout the years, and still enjoy it today. In the last 25 years we have welcomed around 50 students from the University of Ume into our home and we have grown fond of many of the students who have stayed with us.

"The experience has given us some wonderful memories and we're looking forward to hosting again this year. We hope that they have all gone on to be successful and happy teachers."??

26 trainee teachers from Ume University are currently studying at Leeds Trinity, with another 30 visiting in November.?