Student testimonial: Afnan Ahmed

What made you decide to start studying at Aalto?

For me, choosing Aalto was primarily based on the degree of flexibility that it offered in the selection of courses and programs. To compliment that with an example which I would not have been able to experience anywhere else, I had my Majors in Strategy, Minors in Mechanical Engineering & Global Innovation and electives from Philosophy. Furthermore, Aalto was one of the few universities in Europe where the university and the program both worked perfectly for me. In addition, I had never been to Finland before, but heard good stuff about the education system here so that motivated me to consider and Aalto was the best university here which made it an obvious choice as well.

How did you decide which programme to choose?

The programme I choose, Industrial Engineering & Management was based on two reasons. Firstly, I had prior undergraduate studies in Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering which was a more technical and engineering oriented programme, but it exposed me also to the industrial management courses. Secondly, I worked in industry after completing my undergraduate for around 2.5 years and during that time I realized where my interests lay which were more focused on the management side of things. These factors combined and led me to consider Industrial Engineering & Management as my chosen study programme for the Master’s degree.

What is the best thing in your programme?

The best thing about the program and also the university in general is the flexibility in the courses I can take which is something I unfortunately did not experience during my undergraduate studies back in my home country. However, more specifically, within my study programme, I particularly enjoyed the company projects and assignments which accompanied almost every course. This is because it allowed us, the students, to implement the learnings from class lectures into a practical project. It further provided an opportunity to work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What has been the most intresting course or study project?

Although there are many courses and projects that I found really interesting and enjoyable, I would point out two courses here. One was the Advanced Case Seminar in Strategy which was a short yet super intense course involving 5 cases spread over a period of 5 weeks with both individual and team tasks. These cases provided diverse set of problems and challenges and assisted in developing our problem-solving and analytical skills which are highly valuable. Two was the Human Potential course which was one of my electives, and while it was not as intensive, the themes we covered in the course revolved around understanding human behaviour in the context of organizations and how can it be optimized.

Are you taking part in any student activities, if so please tell us a bit about them?

Yes, I made considerable efforts to be involved in the student activities, especially with our student guild, Prodeko. I participated in some of the events organized throughout the year such as Vappu, Hiking trips and Games + Sauna evenings. I was also a Master’s and Exchange students Tutor from my 2nd semester, which meant that I also helped in organizing some events for the new students. That was super fun and gave me an opportunity to meet new people and make friends.

What do you want to do after you have graduated? Do you have a dream job? 

Considering that I am very close to graduation now already and from what I have experienced so far being in Finland, I would definitely like to work here in Finland to gain some professional work experience. As for my dream job, my ultimate priority is to be doing meaningful work where I can connect with the company’s mission and vision because I have realized that when I am doing such work, it drives my motivation to go above and beyond. One thing I experienced while being a student and working part-time was consulting while working as a student consultant and that is something I would like to explore more in a professional setting as well.

What tips would you give to students starting their studies?

My primary tip would be, especially to the international students, to make the most of their time here at Aalto and in Finland and try to be involved in as many activities as they can be. One thing I have learned is that if you have an interest, you can almost always find some student society or union who would be promoting that or organizing events related to that, so you will find like-minded individuals to enjoy your time with. Moreover, reach out and make lots of connections with your fellow students and colleagues, because when you graduate, it is those connections and friendships that will remain and you shall cherish them for the rest of your lives.