Silvio

Hi, my name is Silvio, I am 23 years old, and I am originally from Germany. My background is in Industrial Engineering (Bachelor), which I studied at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Göttingen – Germany. I am currently expanding my knowledge of sustainability in the master’s programme of Sustainable Technology at KTH. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature, doing all kinds of sports; especially martial arts and climbing, as well as woodwork.

Why did you choose this master’s programme at KTH?

I chose Sustainable Technology because I want to have a positive impact with my future profession and learn how to solve the problems our planet and humanity are facing right now, like climate change, species decline, injustice or hunger. Furthermore, this master’s programme offers a high degree of freedom for choosing your own favourite courses and specialising in your topic of interest.

What are the best aspects of your programme?

In our programme I primarily enjoy the diversity of people regarding their professional backgrounds, origin, life experiences, age, world views, etc. This creates a very enriching environment that promotes interesting discussions which give me new perspectives. Also, the group is rather small, which means you can get a lot of individual feedback. Lastly, the teachers and peers are open-minded and friendly, creating a pleasant and trustful environment to study in.

Have you chosen a specialisation track within the programme? If Yes, which track and why?

The programme offers a specialisation in either Environmental Management or Environmental Technologies. I have chosen Environmental Management as my specialisation since I see myself more in an organisational role in the future rather than dealing with the respective technologies in detail. Furthermore, I have created my own specialisation based on my personal interests through the courses we can select, where I focus on the interplay between innovation and sustainability.

What are your favourite courses thus far?

My favourite courses so far are:

Transdisciplinary Approaches for System Innovations (AL2115)

Waste Management (AL2130)

Business Model Innovation (ME2815)

How do studies at KTH differ from your previous studies?

The studies at KTH involve much more interaction between the students, e.g. in project groups. This enables you to learn a lot from your peers and leads to stronger and faster personal connections. Furthermore, the studies have a much stronger focus on working with scientific literature.

How is student life in Stockholm?

Since going out in Stockholm is relatively expensive, we mostly meet up at a friend’s place, enjoy food together, talk a lot and play games. This creates a great atmosphere of togetherness and leads to close personal connections with your fellow students.

How would you describe your time at KTH so far?

My time at KTH so far has been characterised by a high degree of engagement in the studies, but also in extracurricular activities. For instance, I am engaged in a student organisation called Students for Sustainability, where we work in close cooperation with KTH on concrete projects to spread the word about sustainability and to make KTH more sustainable. Thus, I can apply what I have learnt from the study programme in practice and learn a lot beyond the programme courses. Overall, KTH has an exciting, engaging and enriching environment which is always challenging in a stimulating way and which lets your personality, networks and friendships grow.

What do you want to do after graduating?

I want to shape my own workplace where I can work towards a higher and more meaningful purpose. This means that making a positive impact on the planet and humankind is the first goal I want to achieve by inspiring people to work towards a just and sustainable future.

What would you like to say to students thinking of choosing KTH for their master’s studies?

Do it! Any new experience abroad or in a different university is enriching – and the positive learning environment and collegial interaction on the same level between students, teachers and researchers is definitely worth it. Also, the campus life is amazing. So, just do it!