Students talk about about ME in Amsterdam
ME students share their experiences of the first three years of the program in Amsterdam.
Students talk about ME in Amsterdam
What were the most remarkable moments for students during the first three years of Mechanical Engineering in Amsterdam? 'At that moment, I really thought, wow, we've already learned so much in that first year.'
100% sure of the right choice
‘I initially chose to study movement sciences, which was an interesting course, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me. I was really happy that I could start a technical program in Amsterdam. The second project we worked on was an awesome project on renewable energy. We concluded the project with a meeting where different groups presented their results to each other, and we asked each other critical questions. At that moment, I thought, wow, we've already learned so much in that first year. That’s when I knew 100% for sure that I had made the right choice. And that feeling has never gone away. It’s hard work, but it’s also a very challenging program with a lot of different topics covered.’
Sanne Cox
Sweaty armpits and red cheeks
‘For our first project, we had to create a machine that could cut underwater network cables. For most of us, it was a step into the unknown, but it was really exciting to work on. Four months later, standing in Enschede with a machine I had fully designed and built myself, the ultimate moment came: I had to try cutting a PVC pipe. With sweaty armpits and red cheeks, I pulled the lever with all my strength. The blades closed around the PVC pipe, and it was getting tighter and tighter. Eventually, I couldn’t push the lever further, but I kept trying. Suddenly, the lever shot through, and I almost toppled forward. When I looked behind me, the PVC pipe was still intact. The gears had broken. We had swapped the required radius and diameter during the design calculations. I’ll never forget that.’
Bas Bets
Always willing to help someone else
‘I worked pretty hard because it wasn’t an easy program. And since everything was new, things didn’t always go smoothly. On the other hand, the bond between students and lecturers was close. Everyone was always willing to help each other. What stood out to me was a project meeting at the end of the fourth semester. After two years of COVID, we could finally meet in person again. Not only was it incredibly fun, but it was also much easier to communicate. Whether you want to explain something, demonstrate it or discuss it, it’s far better and more effective to do it live. That’s when I really realised how much I had missed it.’
Wenzel Neumann
Grown academically and professionally
‘Mechanical Engineering has been an adventure with highs and challenges. In a way, our cohort is unique because we were the “guinea pigs” of a difficult technical program at a non-technical university. Then COVID came along as well. All of this forced me to become a very independent student. There were no older students to ask for advice, some professors were far away and we had to deal with a mix of two different academic philosophies. Yet, I look back on the journey with pride. Staying at the university until closing time, struggling with the material, dealing with difficult group members, and still passing those tough exams – it’s all been worth it because I’ve grown enormously, both academically and professionally.’
Øyvind Russwurm