New focus on alumni – a key step toward vision 2041

Chalmers University of Technology is striving toward Vision 2041—becoming a world-class technical university. A key factor in achieving this goal is its alumni—all individuals who hold a degree from the university. Today, the university has approximately 70,000 alumni worldwide, a number that continues to grow each year. Over the past five years, around 2,400 students have graduated annually—1,000 more per year compared to the late 1990s. 

“Alumni are Chalmers’ greatest ambassadors—tens of thousands of creative, engaged, and successful individuals who make a significant impact on society every day,” says Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology. “Chalmers’ strong reputation as Sweden’s most respected institution is largely thanks to them. They are not only highly skilled but also embody a positive culture of collaboration, problem-solving, and societal engagement.” 

Having 70,000 graduates who can strengthen the Chalmers brand is both a privilege and a valuable resource for the university. Chalmers alumni are highly sought after in the job market, fostering strategic partnerships with major companies—many of which have alumni in leadership positions. Beyond their professional contributions, alumni support the university by recruiting new students, mentoring current students, and volunteering at university events.

Support through donations and innovation 

A significant number of alumni have contributed to the university and its research through donations. Many of these gifts have funded scholarships for non-European students, enabling them to study in Gothenburg. Individual donations are a tradition that dates back to Chalmers’ founder, William Chalmers, and have been instrumental in the university’s establishment, growth, and continued development. 

As part of its mission to create societal value, Chalmers is a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. Many technology-based startups have roots in university research at Chalmers, and alumni play a vital role in transforming these innovations into commercial products and solutions—as entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders. 

Renewed focus on alumni engagement 

As part of its journey toward Vision 2041, Chalmers University of Technology launched a new alumni initiative in the spring of 2024. President and CEO Martin Nilsson Jacobi appointed Maria Elmquist, Deputy President for Leadership and Equality, to lead this initiative. 

“The alumni initiative is off to a great start,” says Maria Elmquist. She adds, “We have established an alumni office, reviewed and expanded our offerings for alumni, introduced the Alumni of the Year award, and developed a new alumni strategy with clear goals and focus areas.” 

This new strategy provides a clear direction for the university’s efforts, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with alumni through relevant and engaging offerings at every stage of their careers. The strategy prioritizes five focus areas, with implementation ramping up in 2025. One key area is information and competence—as technological advancements accelerate; lifelong learning becomes increasingly important. Chalmers aims to support alumni in updating their skills throughout their careers. While these initiatives are still evolving, it is already easier for alumni to apply for courses at Chalmers than for external candidates. 

“We want alumni to maintain a strong connection with the university throughout their lives, and to achieve that, we need a diverse range of offerings that meet their needs at every stage,” says Maria Elmquist. “During their studies, students form a deep bond with Chalmers, and it is our mission to nurture that connection. The phrase ‘Once a Chalmerist, always a Chalmerist’ has been well established for a long time.” 

Many distinguished alumni through the years

Throughout its history, Chalmers has produced many distinguished alumni, including a Prime Minister, architects who have shaped the city centres of Gothenburg and Borås, a Nobel Prize laureate, pioneering entrepreneurs, Sweden’s first female engineer, an astronaut, and numerous successful business leaders.