Ida Smedlund

Why did you choose the University of Vaasa? What did you study at the University of Vaasa?

We moved from Turku to Vaasa when my partner got a new job in Vaasa. At the same time, I did my final thesis on environmental engineering remotely (I was studying in Tampere), and I knew I wanted to continue my studies for a Master's degree. I studied in the Industrial Management Master’s programme in 2019-2021.

What do you remember most about your studies and your time as a student? 

Most of the courses were well designed and the possibility to choose courses from other universities was good. I was studying during the pandemic, so my study life was a bit on the sidelines, which meant I was only on campus for six months. This was a shame, because the Tritonia library was the best place for me to study.

What is your job like? 

I work for Mirka and my title is Management Systems Engineer. I am responsible for the ISO 14001 environmental management system (including development, internal auditing, coordination of external auditing), sustainability reporting and environmental permit reporting. I also manage some projects and contribute to the sustainability work of the organization. 

I work mainly on the computer. I do get involved in production and other sites, depending on the projects. I participate in trainings and events (conferences, seminars, etc.) a few times a year. I learn a lot of new things from these events, as there is a lot going on in the field of sustainability.

The best thing about my job is definitely the team. I also like my work assignments and the fact that my ideas are well received, even though I am the youngest in my team. Sometimes I would like to have a job where I don't have to sit in front of a screen most of the day.