Semra is Miun’s Global Swede

- This is cool; I get to meet the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I hope that this will open doors for me in terms of future contacts with companies and other organizations. This is a good girl – work with her, says Semra.

Takmile Semra Sahin comes from Turkey, where she studied industrial design in Istanbul before she came here. This way, the area  ”Design for all” was not new to her when she wanted to continue with her studies. She ended up studying  what was then the brand new programme ”International Master´s Programme in Design for All” in Sundsvall.

- I looked up Sundsvall on Google Maps and thought that it was relatively close to Turkey and I thought that it might be a bit cold. And I can tell you that my perception of cold has changed since I came here, Semra laughs.

She is involved in a number of projects at the moment, such as a project where she tries to commercialize make up products especially designed for elderly people and people with disabilities. At the same time, she is adding the finishing touches on her thesis.

- I will stay in Sundsvall at least for a couple of more years. After that, I may return to Turkey, says Takmile Semra Sahin.

Her plans for the nearest future include finding business opportunities within the field of ”Design for all” and maybe even starting up a design office. Semra has noticed a great interest in these topics in many companies and organizations in Västernorrland and therefore, she sees a future in Sundsvall, at least for the coming three years.

- Sundsvall will be a good start. I want to gain a couple of years of work experience and it means a lot to me that there is a close cooperation between my programme and regional trade and industry, says Semra.

Global Swede Award is an initiative from the Swedish government to give attention to notable international students in Sweden. A prerequisite is to have a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.