Mohammad says that KTH is world-famous for stimulating students’ innovation and creativity
Mohammad comes from Jordan where he studied civil engineering at Jordan University of Science and Technology and worked as a highways and roads network design engineer. He enjoys cooking, hiking, and travelling. He studied at KTH between 2017 and 2019.
What made you choose KTH?
KTH is world-famous for stimulating students' innovation and creativity. In my search for a university to commence my master's studies, I found that KTH not only possesses highly qualified staff members and state of the art facilities, but it is also the perfect stress-free environment that will offer a great experience that will sharpen my scientific background and professional characteristics.
I also found that KTH offers exposure to multicultural environments. I find it interesting to be in group studies with students from all over the world where I can explore how people from different backgrounds communicate and think about how to solve real-world problems. To be a student at KTH has the advantage of experiencing the true Swedish culture, especially when you are living in Stockholm – the capital that is rich in culture and history.
What made you choose the master's programme?
During my work as a highways and roads network design engineer in Jordan, I realized that I need to understand transportation systems from a broader perspective and that classical infrastructure solutions won't be sufficient in the future. This master's programme is problem-solving oriented, and it offers a wide spectrum of comprehensive knowledge in the planning, management, and operation of functional and well-developed transportation systems that promote sustainable mobility. I also found it to be a unique opportunity to study the programme in a city that represents a living example of what good transportation systems should be like and how passengers in big cities are able to move from one end to the other.
What do you like most about KTH?
I am fascinated by the relationship that teachers at KTH seek to build with their students and how teachers believe that there is no such thing as a wrong solution, but rather only better solutions. This has led me to become a stress-free person when it comes to studying. Courses at KTH are constructed in a balanced way that will get every student involved in the course while allowing them to maintain personal activities outside of academics without affecting the courses' results. During the different job fairs that KTH holds, I could not help but notice how employers from industry always have an eye towards KTH graduates.
What are your impressions of Stockholm and Sweden?
I thought that being a student from a non-European country was going to be a challenge in Sweden, but on the contrary, as soon as I landed in Stockholm, I was welcomed to my new home where the society is diverse, multicultural, and yet very open with evident social equity. Everyone here is willing to help foreign students, and I found it to be very easy to adapt to Swedish norms and to participate in different activities, especially when in a city that is full of beautiful views of lakes and green areas. Sometimes after lectures, I just simply take a walk around the beautiful landscape to relax.
What is your best memory from your time at KTH so far?
I find it very hard to answer whenever I am faced with this question. My whole experience at KTH was and still is unique. It is great to be a student during weekdays with all of the interesting lectures and course-related projects on the one hand and to be a tourist exploring Sweden during weekends and vacations on the other hand.
Are there any differences between studying at KTH and your home university?
Even though I obtained my bachelor's degree from a highly ranked university in Jordan, after graduation I found it very hard to relate to the industry; there was a gap between the theoretical knowledge in classes and what is really happening out there. At KTH, faculty members make sure to connect your academic knowledge to the real-world industry, starting from course-related projects that aim to solve real-life problems using real data sets. Guest lecturers who are well-known experts in their fields, connect the course materials to what they do and in field visits, we explore real-life challenges in the different aspects of transportation.
What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for master's studies?
KTH offers the perfect environment not only while you are a student, but also later as a graduate. Professors here and their assistants are always willing to help, and they are open for discussions, whether about the course or any other matter – all you need to do is ask. Do not hesitate too much, KTH is the right choice, and its faculty members know exactly what they are doing, you will be in safe hands.