Minnesota Law Celebrates 40 Years of Collaboration, Friendship & Exchange with Uppsala University

On September 15, Minnesota Law welcomed members of the Swedish delegation, distinguished faculty of Uppsala University, and current and former Law School faculty and exchange students to a celebratory reception in honor of more than 40 years of collaboration, friendship, and exchange between the University of Minnesota Law School and Uppsala University's Faculty of Law. 

Since 1982, the Minnesota Law-Uppsala exchange program has represented a rich tradition of faculty and student exchange, travel, and friendship that connects hundreds of present and former participants across the globe. The program may be one of the oldest of its kind in the world. 

Professor Emeritus Robert Stein '61, former dean of Minnesota Law, gave opening remarks at the reception, noting that it was a visit by John Eric Wickstrom, Sweden’s former Minister of Education, in late 1980, that spurred discussions between Stein and former Uppsala Faculty of Law Dean Anders Agell about a proposed exchange program. Their plan was finalized in 1982 and included the exchange of faculty, students, and library resources between the two schools. Uppsala Professor Stig Strömholm, a towering figure in Swedish academia, served as the first faculty member to participate in the exchange in the fall semester of 1982. Since then, hundreds of students and faculty have participated in the exchange between the two schools.

Minnesota Law Dean William McGeveran, Dean Anna Singer of Uppsala University Faculty of Law, and Professor Eric Bylander of Uppsala University Faculty of Law, also presented remarks and gifts in commemoration of the Minnesota Law-Uppsala exchange. Dean Singer presented the Law School with a copy of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the United States and Sweden. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed on April 3, 1783, in Paris, France, between the United States and the Kingdom of Sweden. The treaty officially established commercial relations between these two nations and was signed during the American Revolutionary War. Professor Bylander presented a new commemorative volume of De lege, the Uppsala Law Faculty’s annual scholarly publication, co-edited by Robert A. Stein and Eric Bylander. The new volume features reflections by faculty and students who participated in the exchange program since its inception in 1982.  

The University of Minnesota Law School looks forward to many more years of collaboration and friendship with Uppsala University!