"Technologists need a business perspective"
One might be very glad to roll into a job when finishing one's studies - only then to realise that another field of work is more interesting. That happened to Carmen. After her bachelor's in industrial electronics engineering in Madrid, she started working in automation. "I did not like that". She had to do something else.
Carmen had discovered during her bachelors that she liked embedded systems - in fact, one of her final school projects was based on them. And going abroad also appealed to her. So, she started searching for masters in embedded systems and quit her job. Now she is doing her specialisation year at University of Turku, after starting her EIT Digital Master School at the University at Eindhoven.
Why did you choose the EIT Digital Master School?
"When looking for embedded systems Master's, I found one at the University of Eindhoven. Here, I also discovered the EIT Digital Master programme for Embedded Systems. That appealed to me because it has an entrepreneurial part in it, which I think is very important for technical specialists. You cannot just focus on technology. You need a business view, whether you are going to have a startup or work in a company. It is good to have a vision to know how you can make business from technology."
What is the best thing so far about the EIT Digital Master School?
"The community - EIT Digital organises a lot for the students. I have studied in Eindhoven, am studying in Finland, I had a Kick-Off in Paris, and a Summer School in Estonia. I wanted to live abroad, and I live abroad. This is so not the same as in other Master's programmes. In Eindhoven there were a lot of EIT Digital students, we were a group together. At Turku, the student group of EIT Digital is smaller."
If you compare the EIT Digital Master School to other Master's, what stands out for you?
"Mainly the innovation and entrepreneurship part and the double degree. In the future, these will be relevant aspects of your CV - these are the things companies look for. I noticed that already when I was looking for an internship. Every company I emailed replied that they were looking for someone like me."
Where do you do your internship?
"I just started my internship at the Turku Intelligent Embedded and Robotic Systems research group at the University of Turku. We are trying to develop a localisation system based on a new technology called ultra-wideband - we are researching how to use it. I will be writing papers and publications. That could be good for my future; I might do a PhD. My supervisor and coordinator are willing to offer me a PhD. I do not know yet what I will do.
