The MD Committee at the Faculty of Science and Engineering has identified a need among students for increased contact with the industry. To address this need, a new initiative for study visits was launched, allowing students in years 1-3 of the DPU, M, EMM, and MI programs to visit companies during a special study visit day.
The first event took place on November 7, 2024, with visits to Siemens in Finspång and Husqvarna in Huskvarna. A total of 110 students registered for the 100 available spots, demonstrating significant interest and demand for this type of activity.
A Collaboration Between the MD Committee and the M Section
The initiative is a collaboration between the MD Committee and the M Section. The MD Committee is responsible for allocating a day in the schedule and providing students with appropriate contacts at the companies, while the student section handles agreements, planning, and logistics. This includes drafting agreements with the companies, booking buses, and organizing registration forms for the students.
Ebba Wennberg, Chair of the Business Committee (NärU) at the M Section, expresses her enthusiasm for the project: "First and foremost, we think it's very exciting to be involved in such a large initiative. NärU has organized study visits before, but not to this extent. We also think it's great for students to see how different companies operate in reality and not just hear about it in a lunch lecture or at a fair."
Benefits for Students
The purpose of the study visit day is to give students a better understanding of the engineering profession, a clearer connection between theory and practice, and increased motivation for their studies. By seeing how companies operate in reality, students gain a concrete picture of what their education can lead to.
Ebba continues: "I think many students find it hard to grasp what an engineer can work with, and therefore I believe it is very appreciated by many to have the opportunity to see it."
Future Plans
The plan is to organize a study visit day each term, with the next event already scheduled for April 3, 2025. For this event, the number of student spots will be increased to at least 200.
"We have already set a date in the spring to do the same thing then. In the future, we would also like to get in touch with more companies to offer study visits that suit all different programs," says Ebba. "Unfortunately, we haven't had much contact with the Ling Section regarding this, but we believe strongly in the idea of collaborating with them."
Through this initiative LiU strengthens collaboration and exchange with the industry, benefiting both students and companies by creating valuable contacts and experiences.