How real-life industry challenges train students in valuable job-ready skills

Brandon was also a finalist during the EDPR University Challenge, an opportunity given to students due to strong cooperation between EIT InnoEnergy and EDPR and EDPR’s mission to build a bridge between the university and business community.  In fact, this year’s winning team includes EIT InnoEnergy students from the Master’s in Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT).

Brandon shares – the experience is valuable, even when you don’t win. He explains: “We could test our idea for deploying hydropower for the first time in the sea. Our team (with classmate Joao Saldanha and Instituto Superior Tecnico- IST Professor Helena M. Ramos) proposed a new integrated energy solution combining four energy technologies in a single offshore module – making it to the top five finalists. And even though we didn’t win, we believe this solution will be huge in the upcoming years! The best experience was pushing the limits and defying what already exists to propose something new, never settling for the first result if we could improve it, which has really helped me grow as an engineer.”

Students who compete in challenges report a common benefit – gaining job-ready skills: from teamwork to ideation and research, public speaking, and communication. For Brandon, sharpening his communication skills was key. He said, “Learning to pitch ideas is crucial in challenges and working life. You need to present your ideas in a way so that everyone can understand their potential. When I began doing challenges, I couldn’t connect my ideas with the audience. It was frustrating, but each time I improved. Challenges also teach you how to set goals, work with deadlines, and support a team. Especially as a master student, where you have assignments, projects and even exams – so when you deal with all these and a competition, you are being trained to be a leader who can handle adversity, pressure, and guide a team. You gain the productivity and discipline required if you want to create a start-up. “

Challenges are also an invaluable opportunity to connect with other students and people in the industry. Brandon shares: “I have connected with amazing colleagues, mentors and supervisors, and luckily have worked with great professionals. Additionally, you can introduce yourself to various companies, so you can meet people from different sectors to find a master thesis or an internship opportunity – and start putting your name on the energy industry map.”

EIT InnoEnergy Master School provides many opportunities for students to get out there and sharpen their skills while gaining valuable experience, such as:

• Battle of Green Talent, an exciting battle royal for those with entrepreneurial ambitions to put their innovative ideas to the test and win 10,000 EUR cash.
• Career Impact Challenges, oganised by EIT InnoEnergy’s Career Centre, where ambitious students can tackle real-life industry challenges working with big industry players at one of Europe’s largest energy events.
• the multiple other challenge-based projects included in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Journey of each Master’s programme!

As Brandon explained, “Challenges aren’t like a regular university project or report. You need to improve many job-related skills to stand out. And when you participate at this high-level, there is only space to improve and uncover your full potential!”