Gustav Berming, Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

“In connection with the coronavirus outbreak in March, we switched to chat, email and telephone instead of receiving visitors here in Infocenter”, says Gustav Berming, information officer and coordinator for Infocenter. “In a way, this made us more accessible. Previously, students had to go all the way here, now we could answer them quickly on the phone or in the chat and they got help faster. That particular part has actually been a positive thing with the pandemic.”
The plexiglass panels around the counter came into place in August when Infocenter reopened.

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

Gustav meets with the study information group at the Student Department every Wednesday at 10 am, during the corona pandemic it takes place at Zoom. Questions are mainly discussed about student recruitment and study information, which is the group’s main tasks. Infocenter has three employees and the other weekday mornings they have their own meeting at 8.15 am in order to go through what needs to be done during the day.

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

Infocenter is located at the entrance level in Studenthuset and opened in 2013 when the house was new. “We answer study related questions about anything from admission to degree applications and offer help with everything from printing certificates to arranging for foreign students to activate their university accounts.” Two of the employees are on site every day behind the counter in Infocenter, and one works from home during the pandemic.

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

Stamps with Stockholm University’s logo in Swedish and English are used to stamp students’ transcripts of records and registration certificates. “All students who have access to Ladok can print their certificates themselves, and many manage to do so. But in some countries that are less digital than Sweden, a formal signature and stamp on the certificates is needed and then we will arrange it.”

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

Certificate showing which courses a student is registered for. “It’s nice when those who contact us appreciate getting help, it gives energy. Many people become very grateful that we’re so quick to provide a certificate, for example. We can send it within a few hours, it does not have to take several days.”

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

In the boxes there are university cards that have gone astray, then they end up here. “It could be that it says the wrong address for a student, that it says Lappis instead of Lappkärrsberget for example”. New cards usually show up every week, and students who haven’t got their cards can come here and pick them up. A university card is needed to borrow books from the library and to be able to use the print machines.

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

The printer fulfills an important function in Infocenter, it is used daily to print certificates for students, among other things. “In the beginning we did not have our own and then we had to go to the general printers, this is easier and more effective.”

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

Among the profile products sold here, the hoodies with Stockholm University’s logo are the most popular. They are available in blue or gray.

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

The stapler is widely used by students who need to staple printouts. “I usually suggest that it is possible to staple directly while printing, but many people are not aware of that.”

Infocenter. Photo: Jens Lasthein

At the start of the autumn semester, a normal year, Infocenter usually have more than 2,000 visitors during September. Now, at the beginning of November, the opening hours have been shortened due to new recommendations. “The latest change is due to the fact that we will be able to go here by public transport without having to be crowded during rush hour”, Gustav says, here with Antoine Graff, visitor.

Photo: Jens Lasthein