A total of 2,414 new students were welcomed to DTU on Friday, 23 August.
A day of celebration. That is how to describe the day where DTU welcomed the many new excited BEng and BSc students.
“We welcome you to DTU and to a study programme where you will both acquire theoretical knowledge and be given ample opportunity to help solve some of the many challenges our society is facing. Never before has the world so desperately needed creative engineers who can create technology that will help us fulfil the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and achieve a better life for all of us,” said Anders Bjarklev in his speech to the students.
“You’re something special. You are the ones who will create our future—and we at DTU will do our very best to prepare you for that task. But remember to pause and breathe. It will be hard, but it should not be too hard. Believe in yourself, prove your worth, and invest in the community here at DTU.”
Fundamental principles of the BEng programme
Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs, Lars Christoffersen, introduced the new BEng students to the term CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate). It is the fundamental principle that DTU’s BEng programmes have been built upon.
"Never before has the world so desperately needed creative engineers who can create technology that will help us fulfil the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and achieve a better life for all of us."
President Anders O. Bjarklev
CDIO describes the engineer’s problem-solving phases. From idea to design and implementation and finally to application. On the intro day, the term was translated into a task, in which the new students had to build an airplane and transport sweets between two people.
Well begun is half done
For most of the students, the introduction week continues on the fresher’s trips. At DTU, students from different study programmes go on fresher’s trips together.
“At DTU, we believe that a good start is absolutely essential for the students to feel at home at the university. Therefore, we work closely with our talented students’ association Polyteknisk Forening (PF student association) when planning the introduction days,” says President Anders Bjarklev. And Søren Kuhberg, President of PF, adds:
“Polyteknisk Forening is the oldest student association in Denmark, and we are in as strong a position as ever. We represent all students at DTU and ensure a good study environment. PF is you, me, and the many thousands of members who are responsible for everything from serving coffee in S-Huset to being a part of the University Committee.
PF is also the + 200 vectors, who, together with the KABS (coordinator of the study start for undergraduates), organize everything from fresher’s trips, camping trips, and study events to cake meetings. Remember, you can always come to us if something isn’t as it should be.”
