Listened to stories about the Arctic
It was almost in the cards that Finn Nørgaard-Pedersen would become an engineer. He has always been interested in science and building things. When he graduated from high school, he worked for a year and a half as an assistant in a concrete laboratory, where he was introduced to the construction industry and became interested in the wide range of exciting projects it offers.
However, it was also a factor that his parents used to work as geologists in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Over the years, Finn Nørgaard-Pedersen has therefore listened to many fascinating stories about living in a harsh climate with permafrost, glaciers, ice, and temperatures down to -50°C.
Now he is in the process of learning how to construct buildings and build roads in arctic areas. When he graduates, he dreams of being a civil engineer in the Arctic:
“My hope is to be able to work with exciting construction projects such as port projects. I’m not sure that I want to work in the Arctic all my life, but from what I can see, there are also quite a lot of Arctic engineers based at home in Denmark. But we’ll see what the future brings.”
Sisimiut and Ballerup
The study programme is conducted as a cooperation between Sisimiut in Greenland and DTU Ballerup Campus in Denmark, and provides a basic understanding of the civil and engineering profession and considerable knowledge about the Arctic.
During the programme, the students do an internship in Greenland, Norway, Canada, or elsewhere in the Arctic. They are also involved in the Innovation Pilot project where, together with students from other study programmes, they create innovative solutions to specific cases. The study programme is completed with a BEng project.
And once they qualify, the engineers are in high demand. Half of the 185 BEng graduates from the Arctic Civil Engineering programme who studied at DTU in Sisimiut will stay in Greenland and get jobs.
Many find positions in the private sector with consulting engineering companies and the construction industry, where they work with construction site management, supervision, and building and road maintenance. Others find jobs with the municipalities, and work with planning, urban development, and maintenance.
And all the newly qualified engineers know how important it is to stay focused on supply lines and logistics. Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, head of studies on the BEng programme in Arctic Civil Engineering, says:
“The Arctic Civil Engineering programme provides students with a broad education, where they learn about a wide range of topics. However, we make a point of ensuring that they learn about construction site management and logistics, simply because it’s so important to get things running properly up here, where the supply lines invariably face challenges. If you’re unable to control the logistics, you can end up facing shortages of materials, labour, or something completely different. And you might have to wait six months before the next ship arrives.”
Meet two students from the Arctic Civil Engineering programme
Why did you choose the study programme?
“I enjoy being outside and doing measurements and real calculations instead of just sitting inside with textbooks. Choosing this study programme was the best best choice I’ve ever made. I just love it.”
How will you use your education?
“I’m thinking about joining an engineering company in Nuuk when I graduate.”
Why did you choose the study programme?
“I felt quite inspired by my grandfather, who was a carpenter. I like working with construction. On the programme, we are learning a lot, like today, where we learned more about determining rock types and structures. And I like the fact that the study programme kicks off in Greenland.”
How will you use your education?
“I would like to work in Greenland, where there is a big need for our skills in construction. But I don’t mind working in another country either.”
