He chose a master’s course in International Supply Chain Management at Jönköping University and graduated in 2008. The program also offered Lu the chance to study in the US for six months, on an MBA course at the University of California, Davis. “My Swedish education was looked upon as an asset in America,” he says. “Sweden has an advantage because all the universities have a good reputation — there are no bad universities.”
Lu’s time in Sweden has given him a valuable qualification and had a personal impact along the way. “I came with Chinese roots but an open heart to embrace things,” he says. “Swedes have many values — openness, humbleness and friendliness — and those will stay with me.” His story with Sweden continues in a professional capacity, working at Ikea in Shanghai as a supply chain specialist. “The company culture has a Swedish influence so it’s a perfect combination for me,” he adds. And occasional business trips to Ikea headquarters make for a welcome return to Sweden. “I take a deep breath the minute I step off the plane and it’s a very warm feeling.”
The right environment
Ask Fernando Méndez from Bolivia why he chose Sweden to study his master’s in Sustainable Energy Engineering. It’s a question he’s heard many times since graduating from Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in 2005.
“Sweden is one of the most developed countries in terms of alternative energy and it’s a subject I’m passionate about,” he says. “So I wanted more first-hand knowledge from Swedes.”
Fernando Méndez, 30, Bolivia, Master's degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering, KTH, The Royal Institute of Technology. Photo: Claudia Canelas
The classroom environment also suited Fernando. “The course was challenging, with plenty of study visits and lab hours,” he says. “But it was the right mix of practical work and theory with lots of people from different countries learning from each other.”
Moved by the strong winters and the lack of oil resources, Sweden has developed a reputation on the sustainable energy stage. And speaking of the weather, Fernando has a few words of warning for prospective students. “If you come from a warm country like me, you have to be prepared to cope with the cold temperatures,” he says. Yet, Fernando learned to love the snow during a trip to the far north of Sweden and enjoyed a warm summer spent in the countryside.
“My message would be that it’s an overwhelming experience,” he says. “But you’ve got to go there, see it and experience it for yourself. Sweden is a great choice because there’s everything an international student would like to have.”
Indeed, Fernando has encouraged his former university in Bolivia to start partnering with KTH and it’s already paying off. “The first group of distance learning students in Bolivia is currently taking the same master’s degree I did,” he says. “That’s probably the most important thing I’ve done since I finished.”