Sustainable and Autonomous Systems, MSc, University of Vaasa

Xiaotian Bi MSc Industrial Systems Analytics

After working as a mechanical designer in the industrial engineering field for 8 years, I realized that there is more I need to explore to expand my knowledge and to enrich my academic experiences. I found many programmes all over Finnish universities which I might be interested to take, but in the end, I chose to apply to University of Vaasa, mainly because I have family here and I have lived in Vaasa for 8 years. It is convenient to me to locate in Vaasa keeping good balance between study and life.

The Master’s programme I am taking in University of Vaasa is Industrial Systems Analytics, which includes many courses and modules that I am passionate about. The personnel is responsible and always there to help. I can get quick study counselling and other support from them. The courses are well arranged and study methods vary according to the content of the course. Self-study is sometimes used as a method, which I think is critical to higher education studies, since students themselves have the chance to schedule their own timetable during the course and set up a flexible and individual plan. I decided to focus more on the module related to data and analytics, and this programme not only allows me to select courses across the department but also encourages me to get more knowledge from other universities. ISA is an international and multi-cultural programme with students from different countries all over the world. I can find some peers from my own country, but at the same time, I also enjoy meeting others from different cultures.

The campus of the University of Vaasa is the most beautiful one in Finland, and ranks the first in my preference list. I have good experiences studying in the library and walking around in the campus with sea view. I bet there are few education institutions in the whole country that can provide such amazing sceneries for students and staff.

I have been in Vaasa for more than 8 years, and I really like to be here. Vaasa is not a big city compared to other cities I have lived before, however, you can easily access almost any service you want. Most of the facilities are within walking distance and people are very friendly and helpful. In Finland, people are treated equally regardless of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender, etc. People are respected in every side of their life here, which is very important in a place to live. Besides of that, as a mother of two small kids, I can easily attend many activities and clubs with them in an affordable way. Nursery and education system for kids in Finland is one of the best in the world. Kids are well taken care of and develop with their own interest and orientation.

Since it is very simple to be close to nature in Finland, I spend much of my time in forest and in my yard. I would like to have a walk to get fresh air and think about many things deeply in the forest. In the spring, I prepare to plant vegetables in my yard. In the summer, picking up berries and playing in the sea or in the lakes with kids are my favorite things to do. In autumn, I go back to the forest to pick up mushrooms and in wintertime, skiing and driving snowmobile enlighten my life. I really love the way of forest maintenance in Vaasa city, which is eco-systematical and human friendly. You can easily find a place in the nature to spend your free time at leisure around Vaasa city.

Annie Winchcombe - MSc International Business

I applied to the University of Vaasa for many reasons. I had moved to Vaasa in 2018 and worked for a year, I then decided that perhaps an MSc would be a good career choice, and a good way to make friends. Finns are notorious for being hard to crack, so I thought that applying to study was a good way to immerse in the local community. The University of Vaasa had a wide variety of interesting programmes, and I applied to the MSc in International Business as it best suited my interests.

I would describe my MSc programme as international and well varied. The courses are taught by professionals who have real experience in their subject areas, and it reflects in the high standard of teaching. The teaching method is very hands-on, and in my experience, the teachers are very approachable and happy to help with any problem that you may have.

The thing that I like most about my studies is the integration into student life. There is always something to get involved in, whether that’s a society or participating in a sitz. I also really enjoy the international dynamic in the classrooms, it allows for varied perspectives to be given and multiple viewpoints.  The University of Vaasa also has great links with local companies, so if you wanted to gain an internship then the University has useful links to help.

The best thing about living in Vaasa is having the sea at your doorstep. The campus is beautiful and the sunsets right over the water. It makes the early sunsets in winter worth it, as you walk home from class at 3pm and see the sun setting over the sea. Vaasa is a small city, but it has plenty of life in it, there is always something to do. In the summer there is outdoor yoga and in winter you can try ice bathing. The climate is so different to that of London, so every season brings new experiences.

In my free time I have coffee with my friends in the city at all the local cafes, I go to the gym and go on walks by the sea. Vaasa is a quaint city, but you don’t have to look far to see all it has to offer. Many of the local bars have budding musicians playing, which is always fun to hear. Attending the University of Vaasa was my gateway into ‘real Finnish’ life, to which I am now truly integrated.

Josephat Ndulango - MSc Industrial Management

For my master's degree, I wanted to study something different. I thought doing something, not business (I have a background in business) would widen my scope and knowledge. Nevertheless, I also thought that starting from scratch would make the whole thing so cumbersome, so I thought of doing something different but still connected to the business. I was pleased to find the master's degree program in Industrial Management at the University of Vaasa – a perfect match with my interest because of its good linkage with technology.

In the Industrial Management program, students are exposed to a myriad of options to choose from depending on one’s study plan, and I like this aspect very much. I also like the good interaction between the program coordinator and other university staff members which helps students to diversify their study plans based on their backgrounds. In particular, I like the problem-based approach employed in this program, I find it very useful as it allows and encourages students to share what they know based on their experiences and background. I dare to say that this pedagogical aspect – problem-based approach – is the key strength of the program to me. You can imagine, I have not experienced it very much in my previous studies in Tanzania. The internationality at the university campus and around the city of Vaasa adds a lot to the possibility of learning and practicing multicultural activities.

Before starting this program, I wondered how I would be able to study the aspects of engineering and technology with my background in business. Credit though to the good arrangement and communication that this program integrates, I can work together with the most experienced lecturers, guest lecturers, and fellow students in the assigned group works or projects which helps in synchronizing the theories gained from the courses into practice, making the learning process attainable and possible. In this way of learning, we students get support whenever we need it from the lecturers and other staff members.

I have been living in Finland for the past 13 years. I understand the importance of Finnish culture and languages in interacting with the local communities. Even with my Finnish knowledge, I am happy to see that most Finnish people, particularly the young generation, speak English. This is even more unique in Vaasa city because of its international atmosphere. Such a diverse community provides opportunities to learn and practice new things. The university, through the student organization, coordinates different activities for international and local students such as visiting the museums, to especially see how Finland transformed their technology which eventually transformed the entire economy from forest to the technology industry. In addition, Vaasa is full of modern libraries and reliable internet accessibility which opens the possibility to study and learn at any place.

It will not be fair to not mention the different social activities in the city of Vaasa, such as the quality movie theatre allocated in the center as well as the outdoor activities. I like this dynamic environment which makes one feel comfortable and safe, you can walk anytime from morning to night without fear of being attacked, and since most people in Vaasa speak English makes it easy to learn the local culture and communicate accordingly. Last but not least, I am pleased to say that Vaasa is the hub of energy technology for someone who chooses to study here. The industries around or having some practical training in those industries as well as interacting with visitors from different companies who visit the university and city of Vaasa, one is exposed to an ideal learning environment particularly for energy technology. I just feel that I am a lucky student to study the Masters of Industrial Management at the University of Vaasa.