What is ESTIEM?
ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management) is a one-of-a-kind European organization for students of industrial engineering and management, founded in 1990. The organization was established to promote communication and cooperation among students and institutions in the field of industrial engineering and management. ESTIEM comprises of Local Groups from a total of 31 countries, and it is possible to reach up to 60,000 students from 79 universities through the network. Among growing internationalization global and cross-cultural cooperation is needed to bring students from different countries together.
In terms of industrial engineering studies, ESTIEM’s mission is to foster relationships among European IEM students and help students develop both personally and professionally. This can be achieved through various events and activities that provide opportunities for international communication and interaction. The ESTIEM spirit represents crossing borders, open-mindedness, and combining work and fun. As per ESTIEM’s unofficial motto: “Work hard, party hard!”
What can ESTIEM offer you?
The range of events is so wide that there’s sure to be something for everyone. All you have to do is find an event that interests you, clear some space in your calendar, and sign up! Here are a few good reasons why everyone should hop on a plane at least once and see what life as an IEM student looks like outside Finland’s borders.
• You’ll grow academically, socially, and above all, become more internationally minded! • Networking and building friendships with people from diverse backgrounds is extremely rewarding and beneficial for your future.
• You’ll gain international experiences guided by locals through food, work, communication, local norms, and having fun. Overall, a local guide who is in a similar situation to you can introduce you to the country’s culture and its best spots in a way you wouldn’t be able to on your own.
• Your ability and confidence in communicating in English will improve as you get to use it in a truly international environment. You might even pick up some vocabulary from other European languages!
• If you take it a step further and decide to become an active member of ESTIEM, you’ll have the chance to develop yourself by being part of a cross-border, partially virtual team. In today’s business world, such cross-border teams are the norm, and with ESTIEM, you can prepare yourself for the challenges of the future!
What type of events are available?
ESTIEM offers a wide range of events, which can be broadly divided into two categories. There are events suitable for all Industrial Engineering and Management students (General Events) and events aimed at those interested in working with and developing ESTIEM (Central ESTIEM Events). Below is an overview of a few types of Central ESTIEM events and their content.
All upcoming events can be found on the ESTIEM portal, and you apply for all events through the same portal by writing a motivation letter (some events have a lot of applicants) and filling out your personal information. Finnish students do not need to fill out the visa section. You can log in to the portal using your personal credentials, which the ESTIEM representative created for you during the first weeks of your freshman year. If you’ve lost your credentials or have any other questions about events, travel, or ESTIEM in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the ESTIEM representative!
Henrik Hämäläinen
ESTIEM Local Responsible
Central ESTIEM events
Council Meeting (CM)
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, representatives from all member universities across Europe gather at the CM to decide on projects organized by ESTIEM, establish guidelines for the future, and vote on board members and project managers for a one-year term. Participation is mandatory for the guild, so the guild provides financial support for two delegates to attend.
Regional Coordination Meetings (ReCoM)
The goal of ReCoMs is to bring together IEM students from the local area to discuss ESTIEM-related topics at the local level. This helps increase cooperation among the nearest Local Groups and generate new ideas for developing ESTIEM in the future.
Local Group Exchange
The Local Group Exchange is designed as a short exchange organized by students between two LGs. A group of students takes turns visiting the other Local Group somewhere in Europe and in turn welcoming students from the host city to their own hometown.
Activity Weeks
Activity Weeks are designed solely for the purpose of getting to know new people and cultures through fun activities. Activity Weeks offer unforgettable moments with excursions, sightseeing, fun events, and parties. This is a great opportunity to learn about new cultures, their histories, traditions, and lifestyles while having fun with friends from all over Europe.
Other events and projects
Academic Days
Academic Days is an event with a clear focus on academic topics. The events explore a specific subject area that reflects the host university’s area of expertise. During the events, students have the opportunity to explore and deepen their knowledge of the topic and reflect on what they have learned with other students. The evenings consist of cultural activities designed to foster a sense of community.
BrainTrainer
BrainTrainer prepares students for the challenges of the business world through interactive exercises that teach through practice. It focuses on developing three skills relevant to students: leadership, presentation skills, and other interpersonal skills, as well as, of course, business. The event’s trainers are usually ESTIEM alumni or other industry professionals, and the week-long event includes 3–4 training sessions. Brain Trainer offers essential know-how and is also one of those events you should definitely add to your resume!
Europe 3D
Europe3D combines culture, fun, and academic learning. The idea is to explore the host country through three dimensions: politics, economics, and culture. This offers a great opportunity to delve deeper into the knowledge of a country through, for example, lectures by local politicians, company visits, workshops, sightseeing, and of course, partying. Europe3D is one of ESTIEM’s most popular events, and competition for spots can be extremely fierce. Thanks to its lighthearted yet comprehensive content, Europe3D is a great choice for a first event!
Vision
Vision is an annual project consisting of a series of seminars. Each year, a theme is selected for Vision, aimed at covering current trends and phenomena affecting the European economy, business, and industry. The seminars explore innovative approaches and practical tools for understanding these trends and phenomena. They also help build connections between students and companies, as Vision is often organized in collaboration with a company or companies that align with that year’s theme.
TIMES (Tournament in Management and Engineering Skills)
T.I.M.E.S is a popular and highly esteemed industrial management case competition in which teams of 3–4 people compete. Optiem organizes the annual T.I.M.E.S Local Qualification, and the winning team gets to represent the guild in the semifinals. The guild covers the travel expenses for the team participating in the semifinals.
Peak Event
PEAK events are about health, mentality and sports. They are usually built around one or more type of sport. Good examples are skiing weeks and a hiking event in Lappeenranta.