Press Release from Umeå University

Olive Maitha awarded at Global Swede diploma ceremony

[2013-04-30] Olive Maitha, master's degree student at the Umeå School of Business and Economics at Umeå University, received the Global Swede diploma at a ceremony in Stockholm on 29 April. The special recognition is a joint initiative between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute.

Higher education institutions from across the country have been invited to participate and nominate one foreign student to the third annual Global Swede diploma ceremony. The objective is to highlight international students who have studied in Sweden and have distinguished themselves in areas closely related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

"Foreign students who successfully complete parts of their university studies in Sweden represent an important resource for us," says Ewa Björling, Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade. "They become ambassadors, both for their own home countries, but also for Sweden the day they return home, something that tangibly strengthens our connections with the rest of the world. The Global Swede award is our way of giving recognition to these people."

Umeå University nominated Olive Maitha, who is in her last semester at the master's degree programme in business development and internationalization. She has also been an exchange student during her studies at ESC Rennes School of Business in France.

"Olive Maitha is a very good ambassador for Umeå University," says Per A Nilsson, Director of the International Office at Umeå University, who was also in attendance at the ceremony. "She has demonstrated strong academic achievement and is an incredibly creative person."

Olive Maitha comes from Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi. Leaving a city of three million people to study in Umeå was a real challenge upon arriving, but the progressive university town in northern Sweden eventually grew on her. Nowadays, she enjoys the serenity, close distances and the friendly people.

"I am deeply honoured by this opportunity and I feel humbled by this privilege," says Olive Maitha. "I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship grant from the Swedish Institute and with it was able to pursue my higher education in Sweden."

Upon completing her degree, Olive Maitha plans to stay and work in Sweden in order to gain some practical experience. She then hopes to return to her native Kenya to apply the knowledge she obtained through her education at Umeå University.

"I would like to start up a consultancy firm that equips small and medium sized organizations with the necessary skills to grow both in size and in market reach," explains Olive.

In the top photo (from left to right): Annika Rembe, Director-General of the Swedish Institute, Olive Maitha, master's student at Umeå University, and Ewa Björling, Swedish Minister of Trade
Photo by: Per A Nilsson

Read an interview with Olive Maitha

Editor: David Meyers

Link to news:
http://www.umu.se/english/news/.cid214425