Alexander Sundquist is named Uppsala Student of the Year 2026
Alexander Sundquist is being recognised both for his academic achievements and for his commitment during his time as a student. He has now left Uppsala for Oslo, where he has started a new job as an IT consultant. Photo: Lisa Hanevold
He enrolled on the newly launched Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management and quickly became actively involved in both student life and his studies. This included football tournaments against KTH, river rafting and a brand-new society focusing on AI. Alexander Sundquist has now been awarded the Uppsala Student of the Year scholarship.
“Through his academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, strong leadership and great commitment, Alexander has created lasting value for the University and future students.”
These are excerpts from the statement announcing that Alexander Sundquist has been awarded the Uppsala Student of the Year scholarship of SEK 150,000, presented by the Anders Wall Foundation.
“It came as a bit of a shock when I got the call. But it feels amazing and is a huge honour. I’ve put a great deal of time into my studies, but also into all my extracurricular activities. It’s great to be told that I’ve done a good job,” says Alexander Sundquist.
Started his studies during the pandemic
Alexander Sundquist began studying on the Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management programme in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. The programme was brand new at the time and there was a lot still to be set up. He began as the student social officer in the newly formed student union section, a role focused on ensuring his fellow students felt supported – something that became particularly important when much of the teaching took place remotely. The following year, the focus shifted to sports within the newly formed Träningsverket sports committee.
“One of the most enjoyable activities we introduced was an annual football match against industrial economics and management students at KTH. It’s still played every May, and there’s a big party afterwards. I think it’s really great that sports can build a bridge between two universities.”
Who won?
“Unfortunately, I think KTH won the first three years. But we’ve won every year since then.”
While studying, he founded the UU AI Society community to give students more practical experience and strengthen the connection between their studies and working life. Photo: Anders Wall Foundation
Focused on AI
Alongside his involvement in sports, he also served as a student representative on the programme board for his degree programme. A key priority for Alexander Sundquist was to incorporate more technology into the curriculum, including data and AI. It was also in this field that he later chose to specialise.
To forge even closer links with the working world, he founded the UU AI Society together with some friends. The idea was to create something they felt was missing in Uppsala: a society where students could meet companies and try out AI in practice, for example through hackathons and workshops.
“For example, we organised a hackathon with Loveable, a major Swedish AI company. It was great that they wanted to come to Uppsala. Uppsala might sometimes be a bit overshadowed by Stockholm, but we wanted to create a platform where the most exciting companies could also come here and meet students.”
It has not yet been decided what he will use the scholarship for. He may use it to start a company in the future. Photo: Lisa Hanevold
From Uppsala to Oslo
During his time at university, Alexander Sundquist also found time to get involved in the Forsränningen river rafting event, do an internship and study abroad. During his study exchange in Lisbon, he met his Norwegian girlfriend and, after graduating last spring, he moved to Oslo. In August, he started his new job as an IT consultant in a data and AI department. Here, he hopes to build on what he learned during his studies.
When he looks back on his student years, it is not just the courses that he is taking with him into working life. The people he has met and what he has learned through his involvement outside his studies have been just as important.
“Getting involved outside my studies has been one of the most important parts of my time at university. You get to know lots of people, find your place and build your self-confidence. It’s also something I’m taking with me into my working life – a sense that even when something is completely new, I’ll be able to learn and figure things out.”
Sandra Gunnarsson
Uppsala Student of the Year
The Anders Wall Foundation’s scholarship, Uppsala Student of the Year, is awarded annually to recognise students’ achievements at Uppsala University. The scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2000.
This year’s scholarship recipient will be honoured at Uppsala University’s annual ceremony in the University Main Building on 7 October. The scholarship will be presented at the Anders Walls Foundation’s annual scholarship award ceremony on 10 March 2027 in Stockholm.