Emmi's engineering studies opened doors to international opportunities

When Emmi graduated from upper secondary she didn't know what she wanted to do next. She decided to take a gap year to think about things. At first she felt drawn to the commercial field, but after going through materials for the different entrance exams she realized that it wasn't for her, after all. Emmi ended up taking two gap years which she spent working in a warehouse.

”At first the main motivation was the pay”, Emmi reminisces. ”I did a variety of work in there, from collection to reception and briefing new people. Somewhere along the way I became interested in the flow of products and how the warehouse actually works."

During the spring of her second gap year Emmi found Jamk's bachelor's degree programme in Purchasing and Logistics Engineering and decided to apply. Her experience in the field had made her realize, that logistics was the field she wanted to work in.

Emmi's first steps in becoming a full-fledged engineer have been easy. To her own surprise Emmi got really into physics, a subject she had previously barely even studied.

”The basic studies have felt easy, and I was surprised in how much I've liked the physics courses. Another favorite has been the courses related to intralogistics, which I already touched a bit on during my work in the warehouse”, Emmi shares.

The practicality of the studies is a big plus in Emmi's eyes: ”We adapt a lot of theory into practice during the studies and we also get to see how companies in the field actually work!" The working life is strongly present throughout the studies, with company excursions, case work, and project work all playing a big role in them.

Initially Emmi was nervous about studying in English. Her main concern was if her language skills were good enough to study the whole programme in English. Those initial doubts almost kept her from applying to the programme.

”At first it was a bit of a shock that the studies really were completely in English, and I had to use English daily", Emmi remembers. Using and hearing English daily developed her language skills rapidly and after a year she had no doubts about communicating in English.

”You'll get started with your studies with basic English language skills just fine", Emmi assures, but highlights the role that students' own motivation plays in developing the language skills. Learning the vocabulary in the field and using English actively plays a huge part in making English an asset one can wield proudly.

These days Emmi is really happy she didn't let her doubts stop her from applying to a degree programme taught in English. 

On top of developing her language skills, Emmi feels like the studies have given her the type of international competence that is appreciated in the field of purchasing and logistics. Emmi's fellow students come from all across the globe, deepening the international aspect already present in the studies.

”Logistics is an international field - it's practically impossible to contain it within one country's borders, since the logistics chains are always international to some level", Emmi ponders. "That's why it's a huge benefit to gain field specific vocabulary, confidence in your language skills, and experience working in international groups already during your studies."

Emmi is confident that the experiences she's gained already during her studies will open more doors for her in the field after she graduates.

Emmi's not worried about switching from a school seat to a work chair, since she's confident there will always be work in the field in the future. Products, people, and information will always keep moving from one place to another, and that flow needs experts to manage it, something that is in the heart of purchasing and logistics.

”I'm sure AI will automate some parts of the work that has traditionally fallen in the field of logistics, but management isn't something that can be automated", Emmi summarizes and reminds, that even AI will need someone to teach it.

"Logistics engineers will always be needed."