Studying Bioproduct engineering leads to highly-paid professional jobs

Born in an area of Eastern Finland known for its paper mills by waterways, Oskari Laurila learned early on that forest industry has strong emphasis on research and development. In Savonlinna he has been been able to combine his interest in pure nature and study sustainable use of raw materials that forests offer. 

”Nature has always been near my heart. I want to innovate and create new things. Therefore, I chose to study bioproduct engineering here in Savonlinna. I know that this degree gives me great skills to get an interesting job in the bioproduct industry.”

R&D helps to use raw materials in a sustainable way

The lakeside city of Savonlinna is globally known for its opera festival held at Olavinlinna castle. Besides culture, the city is also known for several high-quality degree programmes. Xamk offers students two degree programmes related to wood as a raw material.

After four years of study, Oskari Laurila has now completed his compulsory and optional studies. In his industry-related thesis work, he has studied elimination of greenhouse emissions in the wood industry and has found sustainable solutions for extracting lignin. When producing paper, lignin is separated from cellulose because it yellows and weakens the end product. Finns have been developing lignin-based hard carbon that can be used as a sustainable alternative, for example, when making batteries for electric cars.

”Wood as a raw material is sustainable. Because lignin is a wood by-product, processing it remains carbon neutral. There is huge demand, for example, for batteries used for electric cars. Batteries using lignin-based material could be the solution to develop carbon neutral cars, which would eliminate the need for mining materials for batteries.”      

Savonlinna also offers students a unique access to fibre laboratories. Students have a lab called Kuitu3 for their own projects related to wood and paper fibers. In the neighbouring building, there is the main Fibre Laboratory that is widely used for company-related projects.

”In Savonlinna, we have several global companies doing interesting research projects in the Fibre Lab. These projects offer students work-related experience and help us to network with industry professionals.”

Job market offers many choices

Oskari Laurila thinks that some of his classmates will try to get jobs as control and automation engineers. Some are more interested in R&D like himself. He decided early on that he likes to create new innovations.

”I would like to develop new processes and methods. In Savonlinna, all of us have found summer jobs with good pay. It was the same when I worked two previous summers in Joutseno. I do not know another field of study in this town where students can study, earn serious money working in their field of study and get full academic credit for their work experience. It helps students to speed up their studies and graduate in less time than estimated.”

Oskari Laurila wants to give special credit to his teachers.

”Our teachers are the best in Finland. Studies are flexible, tailor-made and international. You can always count on having tutoring because we work in small groups. Many students studying at universities of technology have told me that they regret not having done their Bachelor´s studies here in Savonlinna. Our studies guarantee work in industry with good pay.”

Student exchange takes him to Germany

Oskari Laurila will complete his 4-year degree in time. Having completed studies and thesis work, he is now heading for Germany with two classmates for four months.

”We will be studying wood technology at Technische Hochschule Rosenheim close to Munich. I have never studied German, but we will manage with English. I am really excited about our student exchange.”

Xamk has been developing wide international networks for over 30 years. Oskari Laurila said yes when he was asked to join a European Ingenium network that combines students and professionals from 10 countries and educational institutions.

”We get together and study soft skills, such as working in a team and how to present to a bigger audience. It was a surprise for me to realize how similar we are to the other young people who attended Ingenium meetings. It has been a great to way to open one´s horizons and make friends from new countries.”

Motivation counts most

Over the years in Savonlinna, he has realized how important it is to create national and international networks.

”Getting to know people who work in the industry is most important. You may be excellent in maths but in the end it matters than you know your field and that you know people who work in the industry. Here in Savonlinna, it has been very easy to get to know people and also to network internationally.”

Oskari Laurila laughs that he may not sound like a typical engineering student. At high school he studied advanced mathematics courses as well as chemistry, but he does not think his grades were good. He also says that in his student group, some have completed high school and others vocational college, but both study side by side without major difficulties. 

”In the end it comes to your own motivation. I was not good at English either, but studying an engineering degree helps to pick up vocabulary fast, and you learn to speak the language quickly.”

In Savonlinna he has continued his crossfit hobby. In addition, he has found time to be active in local student union.

”Students studying in English, have a student association of their own. I am also active in national associations for bioproduct engineers. They organize seminars that offer great opportunities for networking with people in the industry.”

Altogether, he recommends bioproduct engineering studies in Savonlinna to people who are innovative and love to find solutions to existing problems.

”Finnish bioproduct engineering is highly respected globally. Currently, our field of expertise offers the world solutions for reducing mining and use of plastics. What we need now are people who want to solve existing problems and to make a change in the world.”