Interview with Wisse Bos

Can you describe your experience with the bachelor program?

I started my bachelor Industrial Engineering because of my technical interest and interest in working in business. Initially, it was not exactly what I expected because I got more technical courses than I anticipated such as Calculus, Physics, and Statistics. As this felt like a continuation of high school, I did not see the relevance that much. However, the content of the Bachelor’s taught me to think in steps and processes and reason, as a result it gave me a positive reflection afterward.  Therefore, I do feel I can work in all kinds of organizations. Moreover, it gives me the feeling that I have a solid base from which I can specialize within the organization I will be working in.

Did you also enjoy your bachelor program as a whole?

As the program continued, I got a clearer picture of what I wanted to do. In addition, the program is comprehensive, so I had to determine which direction to take. Finally, in the third year, I began to enjoy the program and wanted to achieve the best.

Overall, the program was challenging enough but allowed for other activities alongside studies. For example, courses with attached cases were more enjoyable than theoretical ones.

As a set-up for the bachelor program, I think more case studies and mid-term exams would be beneficial. I appreciated the freedom to plan self-study time, but mid-term exams help reflect on learning. Both having theoretical knowledge explained beforehand and learning along the way in project work are valuable. Students should also learn how to search for knowledge and potential solutions themselves.

Did you have guest lectures from people from industry (hybrid teachers) during your Bachelor program?

Many students look up to companies, and when a professor says something like ‘this is also something that I experience or apply in my company’, everyone starts to pay attention. I welcome that more practical experiences will be incorporated into the theory.

It gives me the feeling that I have a solid base from which I can specialize within the organization I will be working in.

Acquired Knowledge

Do you feel like the Bachelor provided you with enough interdisciplinary knowledge?

Partially but I feel there is still room for improvement. When I became active in the Solar Team Eindhoven, I started to understand what other disciplines entail. As an Industrial Engineer, I find it crucial to understand other fields and their engineers. I wish there were more interdisciplinary activities included in the bachelor program.

What did you learn from the projects connected to the Bachelor courses?

I learned that sometimes theory does not align entirely with reality, which gave me the feeling that I could also create knowledge.

What was the difference you experienced between group assignments and individual assignments?

I preferred group projects because I learned about group dynamics and conflicts. Moreover, to further improve this there should be more group projects with a fair workload division.

Freedom of choice

To what extent did you experience the freedom to determine your learning path throughout your Bachelor program?

I experienced more freedom in my third year, but in the first two years, while there was some choice, it was strongly suggested to follow specific courses. I followed these suggestions and did not experience the freedom of choice there. I would have liked to have more room to choose fun courses.

How can more freedom in determining one's learning path contribute to a student's development?

Not follow the pre-determined path but allow students to decide and find out what they enjoy and work in areas that interest them. To me, the goal of an educational path is not only to acquire knowledge but also to figure out what you find interesting.

Do you think you would have been able to handle that freedom as a first-year student, or do you think a clear structure is needed at the start?

A clear structure should be in place, but with the ability to select the subjects. Of course, most students would likely prefer a clear structure. Still, all students should be able to cope with the freedom to select the topics to which knowledge is directed or applied.

Student team membership

Can you tell us about your role in Solar Team Eindhoven and why you decided to join?

I joined team Solar to apply my knowledge practically and work on a project for a higher purpose. As the team manager, I learn practical skills such as keeping an overview, networking, and understanding organizations’ operations. I also learn about other disciplines and how they work. I apply theories learned in my Bachelor and better understand their relevance.

With which disciplines do you primarily work together within Solar Team Eindhoven?

As the team manager of Solar, I primarily work with industry partners and do not work interdisciplinary in my day-to-day activities. However, I support technical talks with companies and enjoy learning how their products work. I value understanding other disciplines and aim to fully understand how Stella Terra  works by the end of the year.

Did you experience a failure during Solar Team Eindhoven or your Bachelor studies that you learned a lot from?

During my Final Bachelor Project, I forgot to include the validation step, which caused a lot of stress. In Solar, I experience challenges weekly, but overcoming them gives me self-confidence and practical knowledge. Students learning to deal with uncertainties is beneficial. This works well in a student team because everyone is intrinsically motivated to make it a success. However, there is a dilemma whether it's the job of the University to teach such skills or to transfer in-depth knowledge and stimulate students to do projects alongside their studies.

Why do companies collaborate with student teams in such an enthusiastic way?

Motivations vary, from attracting talented students to work for their organization, staying up to date on the newest developments, valuing sustainability, or simply finding it a cool project. Overall, it's a positive experience and leaves a great impression on the business world.


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