Bilsystemteknik not only for car nerds
- As a mechanical engineer which application you want, but with a clearer gauge. So describes Jacob Torstensson Bachelor program in Automotive Engineering at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) in which he reads the second year of the three.
Jacob from Uppsala and felt it was time to take a step away from home. There were many factors that decided to Luleå's advantage.
- I had heard from my friends that the catalog is a nice city, it's good skiing, a nice campus, plenty of activities and that the training is good. My expectations were met and more. I've had great fun at LTU and can really recommend others to find their way here.
Bachelor instead of engineering
For Jacob was an obvious choice BSc in engineering because he did not want to commit themselves for five years or read many theoretical courses, but still have a practically oriented training that is in demand by industry. She chose Bilsystemteknik is natural when James describes himself as a "bilidiot" but he does not think education is only for the saved.
- My classmates are tech-savvy guys and girls who want a more profiled engineering. We are a good mix of students, some of which can be a lot about cars, while others have their strengths in theoretical subjects like math and physics. One need not be a bilnörd to fit.
The Jacob so far think was the most fun in the training courses are Engineering Projects 1 and 2 that reading two years on Bilsystemteknik. There, students work directly with a real business to develop a product. Next up more traditional courses with lectures and labs dealing with automotive systems and control engineering. Recently, his class also have driving exercises on one of the major automotive testing facilities available in Arjeplog in Norrbotten inland (separate article about it is here ). It was something Jacob and his classmates appreciated.
- We had to develop our knowledge of how the car behaves on ice. Everyone is self-proclaimed experts on driving and it was fun to see the facility and how engineers work with automotive testing. Very instructive and exciting.
Social Commitment
Cars and technology are all very well, but what mainly distinguishes Jacob is his great interest in people and his social commitment. Already in the first week as a student during zero period * he became embroiled in the massive club available at LTU. He has been chairman of the festival association Julius, served on the nominating committee for the machine section and been involved in LTU's 40th anniversary.
- I've always liked to get involved in various clubs and at LTU, there really is an opportunity to take place in those contexts. Want to make a difference as you can. In that respect, I think it is an advantage that LTU is not a huge university.
Better with a cohesive campus
On a smaller universities think Jacob is also the contact between students and between teachers and students will be better.
- It speaks of "Porsö bubble" as something negative, but I just think it is positive (Porsön is the neighborhood where LTU is located). It will be a nice cohesion when most students live, eat and live here. It's a good mix of people from all over the country where everyone can hang out and have a hell of fun together.
He is also impressed by the expertise of university teachers and researchers.
- They know their stuff. It's fun when it pops up students and researchers with a huge expertise in a subject. That it is not as huge an advantage, you get a better contact. You can basically walk around the premises and take on research projects in the world.
Technology and Marketing
Jacob's dad used to joke that his son would either become the most social engineering or the most technical preschool. Now that the election was an engineer hope Jacob to combine their social interests with the technical knowledge he has of the training.
- I expect to work as an engineer a few years, but then I would like to spread the technology and engineering thinking to the masses. It may sound visionary, but it would be really fun. Something that has been in marketing or staff to do. I prefer to speak and write in front to sit at a desk with CAD and strength calculations. My great social interest combined with my interest in cars is probably a pretty odd combination that I hope to take advantage of in my future career.
* Zero Period. Two weeks of voluntary introduction of new programming students. The aim is that the new students to get accustomed to university life, get to know each other and have fun together. The activities are planned and implemented by so-called Phösare (students from higher grades).
