Dua Sultan brings international expertise to Seinäjoki’s AI community
Dua Sultan is a Pakistani software engineer and UI/UX designer who works in the GPT-Lab AI research group at Tampere University, located at the University Consortium of Seinäjoki.
Finland and Pakistan differ from each other in many ways. Sultan arrived in Finland for the first time in winter, and the climate was one of the first and most striking differences between the two countries. Sauna and ice swimming were also new to her but have since become activities she enjoys herself. She says she appreciates Finnish nature — its forests, hiking trails, and lakes. A high level of safety is also important to her. She believes that people enjoy living in Finland precisely because of the country’s strong sense of security and the equal treatment of individuals.
Sultan comes from a large city, so moving to Seinäjoki, with fewer than 70,000 inhabitants, was a significant change. According to her, Seinäjoki is a quiet and peaceful city where everything essential is within walking distance. It is a place where one can enjoy a slower pace of life, living at one’s own rhythm without the pressure of constant movement. She feels this is also reflected in the local people, who tend to be calm and even shy, and who are not particularly fond of small talk.
Dua Sultan has worked in the GPT-Lab research group in Seinäjoki for eight months. Working in a research team focused specifically on artificial intelligence has deepened her interest in the field in a completely new way. As a UI/UX designer, she designs web and mobile interfaces as well as digital products for software companies. More specifically, she creates websites that are visually appealing, engaging, accessible, and interactive. It is important for her to consider the needs of the target user groups to ensure the websites function as well as possible.
Having lived in Finland for two years, Sultan is studying for a Master’s degree in digital media service design at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. She studies in Finnish and is the only international student in her group. Both teachers and fellow students have been understanding, helpful, and flexible regarding the fact that she is studying in a foreign language. They are happy to assist, for example, with translation. Sultan’s goal, however, is to use Finnish as much as possible, as she wants to develop her language skills.
Dua Sultan plans to settle in Finland permanently. She intends to complete her Master’s degree and hopes to continue working in the field afterwards. According to her, Finland’s AI environment is highly developed, which motivates her to work in the sector specifically here. She says that artificial intelligence is widely integrated into different areas of life and that the field generates a great deal of innovation — something that looks promising for her future career.
Text: Siiri Keltamäki
The University Consortium of Seinäjoki is an international community of students and staff. Did you know that in 2025, the University Consortium had 17 international employees and as many as 72 international students?