Sousa Kizua jobbar som Senior Automation Engineer för teknikföretaget Andritz och flyttade från början från Angola till Kotka i Finland för att studera vid South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk). Därefter hittade han Högskolan på Ålands nya masterprogram Energy Automation Sustainable Engineering (EASE).

Programmet startade vårterminen 2024 som ett samarbete med Arcada och studerande kunde välja om de studerade huvudsakligen på Högskolan på Åland eller på Arcada. Sousa valde att studera på Åland och blir den här våren historisk då han är den första någonsin som tar en masterexamen från Högskolan på Åland!

Vi passade på att ställa lite frågor om hans upplevelse hos oss.

What made you apply to the EASE program at ÅUAS?

I liked the challenge. I had never been to Åland before and I was curious. Arcada was too close to Kotka, and I thought why not study on an island instead?

What has been the best part of this program for you?

The cultural mix and meeting people from different places has been great. Some of my classmates live on Åland, others in Finland, but working together has worked out well anyway. The teachers in both Arcada and ÅUAS have been very helpful, and the flexibility and possibility to study remotely has also been great, as I travel a lot in my work.

What are your plans for the future?

I see a lot of potential to use what I have learned in this program in my current role. I have also been offered new job opportunities teaching automation at a university in Portugal. One day, I will come back to Åland too, to visit or maybe participate in a project or something similar. I feel at home here.

Läs mer om EASE-programmet här.