Aalto Thesis Day 2024 brought together employers and Aalto’s international master’s students
The event merged two pilot initiatives from 2023—Aalto Thesis Fair and Aalto EIT Matchmaking—creating a platform for Aalto’s international students to connect with potential employers.
The day featured two parallel tracks. The EIT Track was introduced by Martin Vendel from EIT Urban Mobility, who described the event as ‘a day of dialogues for companies, students, and supervisors.’ He encouraged EIT master’s students to remain engaged ‘through events, professional communities, startup and innovation ecosystems, and EIT Alumni.’ Alumni from EIT programs shared their experiences, offering valuable insights into transitioning from thesis work to securing employment.
The General Track focused on other Aalto master’s programs, providing students with practical advice before they engaged with companies. Peter Kelly from Aalto University, Owain Hopeaketo from TEK, and Anne Delgoulet from Suomen Ekonomit shared networking tips and recommendations for successfully completing a thesis in collaboration with industry partners.
A key highlight of the event was the two-hour networking session, opened by Petri Suomala, Vice President of Education at Aalto University. During the session, companies showcased their thesis collaboration opportunities and support services at their stands. Tatjana Petkovic from Huld Oy described the event's atmosphere as inspiring: ‘Our previous collaboration with Aalto University experts was so positive that I wanted to return to meet new talents.’ Lukas Wulff from Meyer Turku echoed the sentiment, saying, ‘We value the courage, innovation, and proactivity of Aalto University students.’ Similarly, Ville Hyvärinen from Pictue Oy noted that his company was drawn to the event by the diversity of Aalto’s international students. ‘We appreciate their top-level expertise and ability to address our specific needs,’ he remarked.
The event attracted students with diverse research interests. Technology student Affan Ul Ain visited company stands to explore AI-related research opportunities. ‘The best part of Aalto Thesis Day is the support networking provides in finding a thesis topic,’ he said. Business students Ngan Hoang and Trang Nguyen also appreciated the networking opportunities. Hoang explained, ‘I came to gather ideas for my thesis,’ while Nguyen, already having a thesis topic in mind, sought a company willing to collaborate. Both students emphasized the importance of working on a ‘real-life’ thesis through partnerships with organizations beyond the university, such as cities, companies, and startups.
Aalto Thesis Day 2024 not only supports international students' goals of working and living in Finland but also helps employers discover future talent. The event's expansion reflects the demand for such encounters between employers and international students. ‘Even students from outside Aalto University have expressed interest in participating,’ said Sara Liski, Talent Boost Specialist and one of the event's lead organizers. ‘This speaks volumes about our success in creating an inspiring opportunity for networking and fostering thesis collaborations.’ Ingrid Schembri, Aalto-EIT Services Manager and co-lead of Aalto Thesis Day 2024, added, ‘This event is just one of many support services at Aalto University dedicated to helping international students find and pursue thesis opportunities in industry. We hope Aalto Thesis Day becomes an annual tradition that continues to evolve to meet participants’ expectations.’
The event was made possible through the collaboration of Aalto Career Design Lab, Aalto EIT Services, Aalto Learning Services, and Aalto Startup Center. Aalto Thesis Day 2024 was sponsored by the Talent Boost Finland project and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Photos: Mikko Raskinen
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