"They discover programmes they didn't think existed"
On March 21 there was an Open House at KTH in Flemingsberg. Programme managers, study counselors and students met interested visitors and told them about the different engineering programmes and the Technical preparatory year.
”Here they can ask all their questions and find out more than if they just read about the programme online. It is much more personal to meet someone who can relate to the programme and who knows what it means," says Solivan Yehya, final year student at the Engineering and Economics programme.
All universities on Campus Flemingsberg had joined forces and organized Open House at the same time during one afternoon.
"There were perhaps slightly fewer students this year, but those who came were very interested and many stayed for a long time," says Åsa Karsberg, communications officer at CBH, who coordinated the event both this year and the year before.
Visitor Josijas has been living in Sweden for a year. He is mainly interested in the Degree Programme in Computer Engineering.
"It's a very topical subject and KTH is the university everyone wants to go to. It's a quality programme and 97 percent get jobs, so if you want a job in the future, it's a great choice. It feels great and I am very excited to study at KTH," says Josijas.
Motivating to meet on site
He has just visited the Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering stands and appreciates the opportunity to meet the representatives of the programmes on site.
"Absolutely. It gives me motivation. My vision is to learn programming at KTH. Sweden is the country that drives the development of this technology. There are many companies here and I want to contribute," says Josijas.
Final year student Solivan Yehya answers visitors' questions about the Engineering and Economics program.
“They ask about what kind of job you get, about the math. Many are worried about the math and people also ask what kind of courses they are taking. I have met students who are applying for their first university education after the basic year and upper secondary school. It feels good to help them make that choice, I can imagine that it is a very difficult situation they are in," she says.
Can see the diversity
The importance of an Open House in KTH's premises is emphasized by Mats Nilsson, who is responsible for the engineering programmes in Medical Engineering, undergraduate level.
"It's great. I definitely think it's something we should have. I sit on the upper secondary school council in Huddinge municipality together with representatives of the universities and the upper secondary school principals are very positive.”
After the pandemic, there was a discussion about whether Open House should return to being held on site or whether it should continue digitally.
"When I've talked to students, they appreciate seeing the environment and talking on site. They discover programmes that they didn't think existed. Online they only see one programme, here they can see the diversity and come up with new ideas," says Mats Nilsson.
Text: Sabina Fabrizi