In September, 13 new students set off for DTU’s campus in Sisimiut, Greenland, to begin the fall semester of the Bachelor of Engineering in Arctic Civil Engineering.
The study programme gives students insight into all phases of construction and building projects in Arctic conditions - from planning to execution. Among other things, the students work with sustainable energy supply solutions and improving infrastructure, the environment, and indoor climate.
Students learn, for instance, how to plan construction in areas with permafrost - where the ground must be protected from thawing, or the foundation designed to withstand the ground movements that occur as the permafrost melts. Otherwise, buildings and infrastructure are at risk of damage.
Encountering a different culture
Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen is delighted that eight of the 13 students come from Greenland and have enrolled in the programme where the first three semesters take place in Greenland. The goal is to educate even more Greenlandic engineers, so it makes a significant difference whether the programme is based in Sisimiut or Lyngby:
“When Greenlandic students travel to Denmark to study, encountering a completely different culture can be overwhelming. Language differences, big city life, and the physical distance from home often play a big role in students feeling overwhelmed - and on top of that, there is a greater responsibility for their own learning,” explains Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, continuing:
“At the Arctic Civil Engineering programme, students begin in Greenland and can complete a large part of their education there. In fact, students only need to spend about one year in Denmark, which means that many complete the programme. About 40 percent of graduates are originally from Greenland.”I september satte 13 nye studerende kursen mod DTU’s campus i Sisimiut, Grønland, i forbindelse med efterårets opstart på diplomingeniøruddannelsen Arktisk Byggeri og Infrastruktur.
