Industrial engineering students receive multiple awards

Five students from the civil engineering programme in Industrial engineering and management have won awards in the final presentations of an international experience module at HES-SO Valais-Wallis University in Sierre, Switzerland. The week long module aimed to increase employee satisfaction at a company. The teams in which the students participated won first prize in no less than four different categories.

Students Anna Jonsson, Jennifer Pesämaa, Jonatan Connysson, Erik Lundin, and Hugo Wiklund recently participated in an international course focusing on human resources (HR). During the week, they attended lectures, workshops, and discussions to prepare for the final presentation, which was to present a case solution to the Swiss logistics company Planzer.

The entire competition was about proposing different solutions for how the Swiss logistics and transport company could better retain its employees in a changing labour market. The company works with warehousing and freight transport between companies and between companies and consumers. Approximately 60 percent of Planzer's freight is transported by rail as part of the company's stated ambition to ensure that its operations leave as small a climate footprint as possible.

The students from Luleå University of Technology did not compete as a team but were divided into different groups with students from the other participating countries: Finland, the Netherlands, and the host country Switzerland. Their respective teams won the Audience Award, People First Award, Talent Management Award, and Game Changer Award.

Rating the working week

Jennifer Pesämaa and Jonatan Connysson's team developed a proposal for how Planzer could implement formalized feedback through continuous consultation between employees and management using an app. Via the app, employees can rate each work week with a smiley face. The rating can be supplemented with text where they can write in more detail about what has been good and what has potential for improvement.

Erik Lundin's team proposed an app where employees can invite each other to go cycling, walking, and other joint activities to increase cohesion within the company. Hugo Wiklund and Anna Jonsson's team wanted to introduce elements of Swedish corporate culture in Switzerland.

"We suggested that Planzer adopt our Swedish wellness subsidies and wellness hours. This would make them more attractive than their Swiss competitors and reduce employee sick leave," says Hugo Wiklund.

Jeandri Robertson, lecturer and associate professor in Industrial Marketing, accompanied the students and participated in the module alongside faculty from the host university and partner institutions. Her role included mentoring student teams, contributing to workshops, and supporting the academic collaboration between the universities.

"The module offered an excellent opportunity for our students to work in intercultural teams on an authentic industry challenge. Experiences like this strengthen both professional skills and workplace readiness”, says Robertson.

Insight into another culture

The students agree that a major benefit of the international competition was gaining insight into another culture, in a broad sense.

"They were incredibly welcoming! Student ambassadors from HES-SO Valais-Wallis showed us around the city and took us to different restaurants. Among other things, we got to try raclette, a dish with melted cheese, and various local wines," says Hugo Wiklund.

There was also a visit to Planzer, and the students noted that the corporate culture in Switzerland is different from that in Sweden.

"The corporate culture is more hierarchical. It's more formalized, for example in how people address each other," says Jennifer Pesämaa.

Swiss society is also different.

"Switzerland does not have the same subsidy system as Sweden. For example, they have no equivalent to CSN with loans and grants. In Switzerland, studying costs money, which means that many students study 50 percent and work 50 percent to be able to pay if they do not have family who can pay their study costs," says Jonatan Connysson.

Great benefit from math

They feel that their education in industrial economics has prepared them well for the international experience. The students from the other universities were all economists. Erik Lundin believes that, as civil engineers, they were able to contribute their knowledge of mathematics.

"We have learned to break down mathematical problems and identify mathematical variables in a way that you don't do in other programs," he says.

All of them are involved in various student associations and emphasize the value of learning things outside of their studies.

“Through my involvement in 180 DC, an association where students consult companies on a voluntary basis, I have learned to give oral presentations and work in a group. That was very useful in the competition,” says Hugo Wiklund.

The visit to Switzerland has not only given them an insight into another culture and an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a fun way.

"By traveling together, I think we have grown closer. It has been fun to get to know the other students from Luleå University of Technology better. And the people in Switzerland are fantastic! I hope to visit again soon," says Jennifer Pesämaa.