Ken Dooley, Senior Lecturer in the School of Management has recently returned from six months sabbatical leave in Sweden.

"It all seems like six months zipped up now," Ken said, on his return to Australia and CQU.

Ken's initial inspiration to travel abroad to Sweden came about in 1995 when he was encouraged to do research by some Swedish students of that time.

After a few more years of contemplation, Ken decided that it was now or never and chose to pursue his research interests in logistics within the forest industry.

In July 2002, his new posting was set with the Mid-Sweeden Hog Skoln meaning college of advanced education.

Ken informed me that Mid-Sweden College has since been declared a university in which CQU has a sister relationship with.

"The University has a distribution of campuses quite similiar to CQU," Ken said.

Ken's research in logistics training commenced along with his supervision of students on projects and presenting at various guest lectures.

One of Ken's many memorable highlights was when he was in Kuopio in Finland on his way to a conference. He had stopped by to visit a 60-person wood-fired sauna one Saturday only to find a sign which stated that they were only open Tuesdays and Fridays.

"It was the perfect 'see and ski' weather, Sweden has just experienced its hottest Summer in 140 years (30 degrees) and coldest Christmas in 50 years (-27 degrees)," Ken said. Catching a horse and cart to the mountains and walking on a glacier in Norway are some of Ken's recommended activities.

The challenge of learning Swedish to tackle every day living activities was quite a learning experience for Ken and his wife.

A sign in which they discovered in a local harbour 'Sakta Fart' which Ken thought meant 'safe journey' was later discovered to actually be a warning sign to boats advising to 'lower speed' as they entered the harbour.

Ken hopes to encourage a stronger student exchange relationship with the Mid-Sweden University for the future.