The People of TECH series introduces you to the people of the Faculty of Technology. Matilda Laurila is a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering and Health Technology who began her studies at the Faculty of Technology in 2021. The Faculty of Technology is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and Laurila has been involved in developing the engineering student culture from the very beginning.
When the Faculty of Technology was established, a few already existing study programmes were transferred there, but Biomedical Engineering and Health Technology is one of the new degree programmes. Students of the new study programmes have been eager to establish new subject associations, which engineering students refer to as guilds.
How did you end up studying health technology at the University of Turku?
Originally, I was never going to become an engineering student. My parents studied engineering, and ever since I was a little kid I said that I would not study engineering. In upper secondary school, however, I realised I did not want to waste all those sleepless nights spent crying over advanced maths. That is how I ended up browsing the engineering programmes at the University of Turku.
I started my university studies in 2021. At the time, Health Technology was one of the Master’s programmes in Information and Communication Technology, so I decided to study Information Technology at first. I studied IT for six months, until I went to do military service for a year. When I later heard that Biomedical Engineering and Health Technology would establish its own Bachelor's and Master's degree programme in autumn 2022, I decided to find out how I could apply for a transfer at the University and switch to the new programme already in my Bachelor's stage, as I had not yet completed much studies in Information and Communication Technology.
What has your experience of the new degree programme been like? Did anything take you by surprise early on?
It was surprising that this really has nothing to do with medicine. Since this degree programme in Biomedical Engineering and Health Technology falls under the Department of Computing, it is in many respects similar to Information and Communication Technology or Computer Science. In addition to the common studies in engineering, we only have a few courses on subjects such as cells, physiology, and medical device regulation. I was surprised by how much coding is still included in the studies.
You have been involved in setting up a new guild and developing the engineering student culture. What has that been like?
Initially, I was on the board of the subject association of Information and Communication Technology. I hoped to make friends through association activity. I also joined the first board of Asklepio for a moment when a place there became available. Since then, I have been involved in the association's board’s activities and I still serve in the guild’s sports committee. I also represent Asklepio on the board of the Teekkarikomissio Association.
Perhaps the biggest challenge we students have faced is that, as we are in a department with two very old degree programmes, we have had to have many discussions with the department regarding the content and functionality of our studies, and how they could be developed. It has been very important that students share their views on how the courses work from their perspective. On the other hand, we have very understanding staff at the department who care about the students’ perspective.
When it comes to engineering student culture, our association, Asklepio, received support from the older guilds and we were able to quickly set up the association. They helped us draw up the association’s rules so that they are legal. Since then, we have been making ourselves known in the engineering student culture, and more and more people recognise who we are and what we study.
What kind of traditions have you established and what would you like to see continue long into the future?
Our subject association organises traditional events such as the “Askot laskee” trip for guild members where we go skiing somewhere in Southern Finland. This has been a popular event. There is also the mysterious “Eldprowet” checkpoint event which is held in Turku around May Day for all first-year engineering students, and let's just say that for as long as Asklepio has existed, the event has been won by a team from Asklepio every year. I would like to see that continue.
How would you describe the atmosphere at the Faculty of Technology now, five years on? Do you think that engineering student culture has a strong presence in Turku?
I would say that Turku might well become the future engineering student city. It certainly is that already, but now that there are quite many of us here, I think also the other so-called traditional engineering and technology student towns are starting to recognise that Turku too has engineering and technology students. From the perspective of both a student and a staff member, I think the atmosphere in the Faculty is really good. You might even bump into the dean in the corridor, who will say hello and ask how you are. This may, of course, be because I am actively involved in many things, but I feel that we have teachers and lecturers who take an interest in the students.
What has been the best thing about your time at university? Is there a particular moment or event that has stuck with you?
The best thing for me has been how much I have learnt outside of my studies. Networking and student association activities have taught me so much, and I have had the chance to experience some amazing things and see all sorts of places. For example, I have been inside Posankka!
One event that stands out in my memory, and one I’m helping to organise again this year, is the dipping of engineering students on May Day, which is also celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. Even the people of Turku are left wondering why people are being dipped into the Aura River on May Day.
As a student in a new field, how do you feel you have gained the necessary skills for your future career?
I have developed quite good skills, but perhaps I have gained even more from the student association activities and everything related to that. In my studies, coding in particular has been a skill I have had to learn from scratch here, as I had no previous experience in it.
I will graduate with a Master of Science (Technology) at the beginning of May, once my final credits have been awarded. Although the job market for recent graduates seems a bit challenging at the moment, I still believe that there are jobs out there for those willing to work.
How do you see your career path? Are you interested in research, business life, or something else entirely?
That is a difficult question. At the moment, I have ideas for many possible directions. I have applied for a place in postgraduate studies because I am quite interested in doing doctoral research, and it would be great to have the title of PhD. On the other hand, I have spent quite a few years sitting on lectures, so in that sense it would be nice to enter business life. We will have to see where time takes me, as I do not yet have a clear career path in mind.
Is there a particular theme or problem you would like to work on?
One thing that led me into this field is my background as a competitive athlete and the associated issues women there face, such as the menstrual cycle and menopause. There has been little research into these issues, and I became interested in how they might be studied using the potential of health technology. I have noticed that many large Finnish companies are utilising health technology, and I hope this will lead to the creation of new jobs.
If you had to describe your studies and student life in one sentence, what would it be? And what would you want say to a student who is about to start studying health technology?
It can be tough at times, but it is all the more rewarding. Make the most of it.
Text and translation: Elli Elo
Photos: Elli Elo and Sara Laanaya
