Charles Rambo had heard of Finland’s reputation as one the happiest countries in the world, so one day he decided to come and see what it’s actually like to live and study here. He got accepted onto the Master's Degree Programme in Photonics at the University of Eastern Finland – and with it, the chance to experience Finnish culture and how it differs from life in his home country. While many photonics students aim at jobs in modern technology companies, Charles wants to go into academia and teaching. He’s gained a lot of specific know-how in physics and photonics, which he aims to pass onto others.
“The second happiest country in the world… I wonder what it would be like to study there?” This was the thought of US native Charles when he learned about Finland's ranking in the global happiness reports.
–Somehow this idea lingered in the back of my mind – about how cool it would be to study outside the US and particularly in Finland, and by the time I was applying, Finland was ranked the number one happiest country in the world. Even better! Charles laughs.
Charles graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with emphasis on physics and a minor in education. He was then working in the semiconductor industry while working out the next steps to being a professor when – on a whim – he found himself googling for different physics Master’s options in Finland.
–The Finnish application process is so easy that I applied to many programs around Finland and after reviewing my options was happy to accept a study place at the UEF Master’s Degree Programme in Photonics.
Starting these studies opened a whole new world for Charles.
–Actually, I didn’t know that photonics was such a massive industry. Everything from smartphone screens to solar panels depend on advanced photonics solutions. That’s also the reason why the programme needs to be so diverse, covering so many things from color science to programming to quantum physics. You really get a taste of different things.
Group work and peer support
What Charles noticed early on during his studies was the research-driven approach and the varied teaching methods used.
–I’m more used to project based learning, so some of the teaching methods are unfamiliar to me. For instance, some professors do flipped lessons, where students go through certain materials and do certain assignments before the actual class. The time in the classroom is then spent on discussions and group work and such. It’s kind of simulating future working life and useful in the sense that students are more active. On the other hand, some professors focus on a more traditional type of lecturing. It’s all good.
The Materials Physics topics have been the most intriguing so far.
–A documentary on materials physics is actually what motivated me to study physics in the first place, so it’s been great to study the field deeper. It enables countless applications for industry and a multitude of emerging technologies.
Hard science requires hard studying, so when the courses started to get tougher, the support Charles received from his peers was a huge help.
–My classmates are fantastic. They’re a diverse group of people from all around the world. We study together a lot, and since I have classmates living in the same complex, we’ve really become a commune.
Classmates also work together on practical research projects, which are an integral part of the studies.
An important part of the program is our group research projects which are centered around some of the high level facilities that we have at UEF.
–We get to work in some of the many laboratories including the cleanrooms and color science lab.
Modernising physics classes
Although Charles’ studies are now rolling smoothly towards a Master's degree and a PhD, adjusting to a new culture hasn’t always been easy.
–I had some problems with the accommodation application, and then I ended up in a three-person flat where I couldn't have any pets and I just didn’t feel comfortable. However, this led to the wonderful situation that I got to move into a family flat with one of my best friends from the program.
He found the city of Joensuu to be surprisingly small, but he’s been impressed with the number of active sports teams and student gatherings. Unfortunately, the corona situation has had an impact on the social scene this year, and the international exchange students couldn’t even get here at all.
–All in all, I was surprised by how kind people are here. Everywhere you go they are really helpful. Owning a bike is a must. It’s super easy to get around by bike – even in the winter as the bike paths are well maintained. I also learned to enjoy the Finnish sauna and now I go there 2–3 times a week.
Studywise, he is approaching his ultimate goal, which is to get a PhD and teach.
–I want to be a professor and teach physics to new generations. I think there are so many ways to modernise physics teaching, and knowledge in physics is the key to solving many of the world’s problems. Overpopulation, global warming, food demand, water demand – you need physics solutions to tackle all these. I’d especially like to see more women and girls educated in science.
Even though Charles might not be a typical photonics student who wants to work in the growing tech industry, he thinks that the programme can appeal to many kinds of students.
–If you’re a research oriented person or you want to find a job in Finland, I see a lot of opportunities. In our program we’ve had different companies talking to us about the work they do, and there are many opportunities for company collaboration, for example in terms of your thesis. They are also talking about this new Photonics Center that will gather companies together in Joensuu and the goal is to have 1 000 new workers in the field by 2030.
In 10 years from now, Charles sees himself standing in front of a classroom.
–I will be happy to teach physics and special things about photonics, building on the experiences I’ve gotten from the different teaching methods and really good lecturers and professors during my time at the UEF.
