'It was never obvious to me that I would pursue studies in a technical field – but choosing Aalto University turned out to be an excellent decision.'

Susan Rämä, a graduate of Aalto University’s HCI major, says she is a good example of why it pays to keep an open mind towards new opportunities.

'I would have been quite surprised if, back in my final year of upper secondary school, I’d seen where I am now. I enjoy my job as a software developer and I have so many wonderful memories from my student years at Aalto University,' Susan says.

One Aalto University course had the clearest impact on Susan’s career path: Programming 1, a compulsory course in her bachelor’s studies. 

'Before the course began, I was really sceptical, but it completely drew me in. Programming is incredibly rewarding. It’s the kind of challenge I really enjoy, fun problem-solving. Now I do it for a living – I spend most of my days with my fingers on the keyboard, coding away.'

At Aalto University, you’re allowed to change your mind

In upper secondary school, Susan was interested in biology and mathematical subjects. She considered studying molecular biology or applying to medical school.

'It was never obvious to me that I would pursue studies in a technical field. I added Aalto University’s Bioinformation Technology to my list of university application choices simply because its short info text caught my interest,' Susan recalls.

'It turned out to be an excellent decision, even though it wasn’t the result of long deliberation. Studying at Aalto University was a fantastic experience.'

Susan started working at software company Visma Solutions during her bachelor’s studies. Her motivating job reinforced her interest in programming, which was first sparked during the Programming 1 course – and made her think about building a career in software development.

'Bioinformation Technology was really interesting, but programming fascinated me even more. Luckily at Aalto, it’s usually quite easy to switch majors if you feel like it.'

'I decided to major in HCI – Human-Computer Interaction – during my master’s studies. Changing majors didn’t slow down my study pace at all. I had completed a few master’s-level courses in Bioinformation Technology in advance, but I was able to easily include them in my degree as elective courses.'

Easily approachable technology and AI skills

Students majoring in HCI learn to design new, better ways for people and computers to interact. The studies are based on information technology and electrical engineering.

'What particularly appealed to me was the human-centred perspective. The focus is on solutions that delight users and make technology more approachable,' Susan explains.

'Group projects with people who were genuinely enthusiastic about HCI left lasting memories. The Software Architectures course, where our group developed an architecture for an application, is a good example. We had a multinational group with both exchange students and Finns, and discussing diverse perspectives helped me gain insights I never would have thought of on my own.'

In her work as a software developer, Susan has found the artificial intelligence expertise she gained at Aalto University especially helpful.

'I wouldn’t have guessed it,' she says with a laugh. 'AI was a huge buzzword during my studies – at some point I even thought it was a bit overkill, the way it was emphasised – but now in working life I see why. AI expertise is a really important skill in my job. Thanks to Aalto, AI isn’t just a black box for me. I understand the principles behind it and know how to use it wisely.'

Choir singing, pole dancing, and sailing

Susan’s best memories of her student years were made at events, on student trips, and above all with other students.

'Aalto University’s student community is broad, diverse, and exceptionally warm. There’s respect for everyone. For one year, I was the International Captain of my guild. In that role, I looked after new international students and collaborated with the International Captains of other guilds. It was a lot of fun and gave me the opportunity to get to know many wonderful people.'

'I also served as my guild’s harassment contact person. We didn’t have them at every event during my first year at university, but by the time I was finishing my studies, every single event always had someone you could turn to if you experienced anything inappropriate,' Susan points out.

Susan emphasises how easy it is to find like-minded people at Aalto University.

'There’s an association for almost everything at Aalto – and if there isn’t, you can start one! During my student years, I dabbled in all sorts of activities: I sang in the mixed choir Dissonanssi, learned pole dancing – and even though I’d never sailed a day in my life, I joined the student sailing club Teekkaripurjehtijat, inspired by a friend. Sailing has since become a beloved hobby.'

For young people thinking about their future, Susan has some good advice:

'It’s worth looking at the full range of courses offered by different universities, rather than just comparing majors. At least at Aalto University, there’s an enormous amount of choice and plenty of opportunities to shape your degree to match your own interests, with exciting minor options and elective courses.'

Author: Joanna Sinclair