The Swedish Institute graduates 370 international students at Stockholm City Hall

Since 1945, the Swedish Institute has worked to strengthen relations between Sweden and the rest of the world. The Global Professional Scholarship programme is one of the tools to support this mission.
Diplomeringen 2019 i Stadshuset Foto: Magnus Liam Karlsson

Every year, the Swedish Institute organises a diploma ceremony for its international master’s students. On the 21 of May, 370 scholarship holders from 47 countries received a diploma after completing their studies in Sweden. 

– What SI has done has been phenomenal for me personally, being from Ghana. I had time to experience Sweden, met a lot of companies and tried many ideas. I will be leaving with a lot of inspiration to make my country better, says Collin SI scholar from Halmstad University. 

The Scholars are offered a membership in the SI Network for Future Global Professionals (NFGP). The Network consists of approximately 700 students every year and has the aim to build strong relations between Sweden and the scholars. As members, the scholars have the opportunity to meet Swedish organisations and businesses, and participate in trainings on the topic of leadership, among other activities.  

 – Soon our talented scholars are returning to their home countries, where they hopefully become the next generation of leaders and decision-makers. Going forward, they will be important to Swedish relations with the world and therefore become an essential part of the Swedish Institute’s international network, says Madeleine Sjöstedt, Director-General of the Swedish Institute.  

As the scholars finalise their education in Sweden, they become members of SI’s Sweden Alumni Network, which today constitutes approximately 16 000 members worldwide.  

– I’ve already started conversations with people in Morocco, about what to do in the community. I’m connecting organisations in Morocco to discuss how we can do more, continues Khadija el Alami – SI scholar who studied Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability at Blekinge Institute of Technology

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals received over 8000 applications in this year’s open call. This Autumn, 432 new scholars will move to Sweden to begin their education at Swedish higher education institutions.  

– Sweden might not be known to many people as a study destination, but once you get to know the country and the culture, there is so much to learn. Ghadeer Hussein, Egyptian SI scholar studying at Lund University.  

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