Student Rasmus Mäkinen: courses that requires creativity have helped me understand energy and mechanical engineering studies better

Why did you choose the bachelor’s Programme in Energy and Mechanical Engineering?

I chose energy and mechanical engineering because physics was one of my favorite subjects in upper secondary school and I was very interested in applying it in practice. I was particularly fascinated by mechanical engineering, and Aalto's energy and mechanical engineering seemed to be the best option, as it offers diverse studies and specialisation options.

What is studying at Aalto like in practice?

Studying at Aalto has been very diverse. In addition to energy and mechanical engineering, we have been able to study other fields, such as coding and chemistry, which has helped us understand our own studies better. Energy and mechanical engineering studies involve a lot of physics and mathematics, which can sometimes be very challenging. However, the lectures and exercise groups have been of high quality, and when working together with friends, even difficult courses are completely manageable.

What is the best course at Aalto?

Courses, where you can use creativity and create something new with your own hands, have always been my favourites, so the Computer-Aided Design course was a pleasant course for me right from my freshman year. In this course, things were initially taught with clear and easy-to-read instructions, after which the students were given free rein to create a larger entity. There were a lot of practice groups on the course, so help was always available when needed. I liked the course so much that I applied to work as a course assistant the following year.

What is the best thing about student life?

For me personally, the best thing about student life has been the sense of community and getting things done. Everyone can be themselves and find the right place in Aalto's student life. I myself joined the board of the Guild of Mechanical Engineers in my second year, and it has brought a lot of great experiences and new friends into my life. There are many people from different backgrounds in Otaniemi, which brings a lot of richness and diversity to our student culture.

What does the future of the industry look like?

The future of energy and mechanical engineering looks very promising. Sustainability is one of the key priorities in our studies, and new innovations are required from both fields to achieve these goals. Employment opportunities are wide and different specialization options during studies guarantee excellent career prospects.