This spring, two new foundations have been established at Uppsala University: The ‘Anne-Marie Åkerlund Memorial Foundation at Uppsala University’ and the ‘Anders Bäckström Foundation’.

In memory of Anne-Marie Åkerlund

Stig Brewitz donated SEK one million to start the ‘Anne-Marie Åkerlund Memorial Foundation at Uppsala University’. Stig Brewitz worked at the Department of Government for 44 years. He formally retired in 2013 but is still active as a senior lecturer at the department.

The foundation bears the name of Stig Brewitz’s wife, who also worked at Uppsala University for many years in teaching and education. In his donation letter, Stig Brewitz gives an enthusiastic account of his and Anne-Marie Åkerlund's long-standing cooperation with students and various student organisations.

“In the name of Anne-Marie Åkerlund, I want to take into consideration future students and researchers by rewarding and encouraging them through scholarships. Hopefully the donation will also encourage others to make similar donations”, says Stig Brewitz.

Both Anne-Marie Åkerlund and Stig Brewitz were awarded scholarships during their own studies.

Scholarships in educational sciences

The foundation will reward students and researchers at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. Students who ‘demonstrate a talent for successful research’ and successful researchers who have recently defended their doctoral theses are eligible for scholarships.

“We are very grateful that Stig Brewitz has chosen to make this generous donation as the basis for the establishment of a foundation in memory of his wife Anne-Marie Åkerlund. Anne-Marie was a valued colleague and lecturer. It is an honour for us to be entrusted with the responsibility to assist in encouraging promising students and young researchers in the field of education”, says Esbjörn Larsson, Dean at the Faculty of Educational Sciences.

The Anders Bäckström Foundation

Anders Bäckström donated SEK one million to establish the ‘Anders Bäckström Foundation’.

“My aim is for the donation to stimulate the recruitment of students studying the social dimensions of religion. For example, through a focus on the significance of diaconia throughout history and today, but equally through the study of civil society organisations both as actors and critical voices in Swedish welfare. Moreover, contemporary religion has become a societal challenge requiring detailed studies”, says Anders Bäckström.

Since the 1980s, Anders Bäckström has researched and built up a research area around diaconia and multidisciplinary research on religion and society.

“My hope is that the support provided by the foundation will draw a new generation of dedicated researchers to international cooperation and to continue the necessary long-term analysis of these issues affecting the future of European society”, says Anders Bäckström.

Diaconia or religion and welfare

The ‘Anders Bäckström Foundation’ will distribute funds to the best international Master’s thesis and research on diaconia or religion and welfare or in an equivalent international research area.

“The faculty is pleased and grateful for the establishment of the foundation and Anders Bäckström’s many years of commitment to diaconal studies and research on the contribution of religious groups in the welfare sector. The ‘Anders Bäckström Foundation’ will encourage continued research in this important field”, says Cecilia Wejryd, Dean at the Faculty of Theology.

Both foundations are managed by the Uppsala University Foundations Management of Estates and Funds.