The distinction ’Global Swede’ is awarded to international students who are considered ‘good ambassadors for their University and for Sweden’, and have shown ’academic creativity, entrepreneurship or innovation’. This year, Ziad El-Awad from Jordan has received the honour of representing Lund university.

Ziad has studied Business and Management in USA, Great Britain and Lebanon – and now Sweden. This spring, he will receive his Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship (New Venture Creation Track) at Lund University School of Economics and Management.

Ziad is a cofounder of a food export business, which has given him firsthand experience into food and commodity trade. The choice to study entrepreneurship in Sweden was not a coincidence.

”I chose to join the programme to get insights on how business is conducted in Sweden, and I aspire to continue with my current food business, taking bigger steps in establishing a new line of organic products for the Middle East and the Gulf region”, Ziad says about his future plans.

”Nothing is more exhilarating than taking an idea and building a business out of it”, he adds.

Picture: Ziad El-Awad with Sweden's Minister for Trade Ewa Björling (Photo by Karin Nylund, Government Offices)

About: Global Swede is a partnership between the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute. The initiative is a complement to the project ‘Kosmopolit’, which highlights the skills of foreign-born entrepreneurs in order to promote international trade, job creation and economic growth.