Small classes, big dreams – this is what it’s like to study engineering in Sisimiut

Pilunnguaq Christensen, 24 years
Studies Fisheries Technology at DTU Arctic, Arctic DTU in Sisimiut

“My education to become a fisheries engineer is all about the sea. I first studied to become an Arctic engineer, but construction wasn’t quite for me. This education fits me better. My father is a fisherman, so it’s much easier for me to get into the marine environment. The program focuses on the Arctic, and it’s mostly about cod and halibut, fish that we have here in Greenland.

I am Greenlandic. I am Inuk. I speak Greenlandic. It’s important for me to get my education here in Greenland. I’m from Kullorsuaq, so it’s very expensive to travel home to visit my family. But I already had friends here in Sisimiut, and my cousin lives here. It’s great. During the summer holidays, we can go home to our families, and sometimes they can come and visit me here.

We have some great activities in the study program. We go to sea, where we take water and seabed samples. We don’t just sit in class. We’ve also visited Royal Greenland’s fish factory to see how they handle shrimp and crabs.

I don’t know if I’ll work in fisheries for the rest of my life because I have many other interests. I draw, I paint, I knit. I love training, going out into nature, and music.

It’s nice that there is a small community here on campus. It’s just us. I can go to the other students or teachers if I have any questions. We’re close to each other.

It’s cozy living in Sisimiut. Quiet and peaceful. It’s close to nature, and there’s a gym. It’s small, but it’s there. We’ll be here for a year and a half. Then we’ll move to Denmark for a year. I’m looking forward to that, too.”

Ramon Eric Roset Andersen, 19 years
Studies Arctic Civil Engineering at Arctic DTU in Sisimiut

“I discovered the program when DTU had an open house. I wanted a very hands-on education, and this one was a perfect fit. I’ve been living in Sisimiut for half a year. The entire program lasts four years, and parts of it take place in Greenland, Denmark, and possibly also other places around the world.

In the first month I was here, we had a subject called Preliminary Investigations, where we were outside a lot because we were investigating the terrain. We dug into the ground, studied it, and did GPS measurements. That’s what I want to do – not sit at a desk all day but to get out and do something.

I live in the Apisseq dorm, a kilometer from DTU Arctic. It’s cold to walk over to campus, but other than that, it’s just like going to school anywhere else. I have friends who go to DTU in Denmark. They have nearly 100 people in each class and don’t have a personal relationship with their teachers. But we do here because the classes are very small. There are nine people in my class, so we have a very close relationship with our teacher and each other.

We all live in the dorm. I didn’t go to a boarding school, but from what I’ve heard, it’s exactly like being that. Sometimes we cook together and have movie nights. Last Saturday, we watched a horror movie.

My dream for the future is to focus on space. Some people believe the Arctic areas have conditions similar to those on Mars. So maybe I can use this education to focus on building bases on another planet. That would be really exciting.”

Victoria Gjerløv Marrup, 22 years
Studies Arctic Civil Engineering at Arctic DTU in Sisimiut

“My mother has always compared me to Gyro Gearloose. I think math is fun, and being an engineer is all about inventing, creating, and working with math. So when my boyfriend started talking about studying to become an Arctic engineer, I asked him if it would be okay if I joined him.

I briefly studied Physics in Denmark, and there were 200 people in the class. I barely knew any of my fellow students. Here, we have a small, tight-knit group where we know each other very well, so you can always come and ask for help.

My boyfriend and I have a part in a group of sled dogs and get to go out and ride. It’s really cool. We also have a snowmobile, which my boyfriend is really into, but I’m a bit scared of driving it, so I have to get used to it.

What we learn in our education is really exciting. We’ve been out working in nature and are close to what we are studying.

We had one week where we were out studying a specific area and had to submit a report to the Mineral Resources Authority, which wants to build a road in the area. It was a real case where we used all the techniques we’ve learned, such as walking around with measuring equipment to check the height variation, what the terrain is made of, and whether there’s permafrost.

Denmark and Greenland have a long history, and it’s important that people in Denmark understand that history. In primary school, we’ve only learned about Greenland once. The knowledge I’ve gained here, I’ll take with me in my life, and I hope I can also help create more understanding with my family and friends. I can’t imagine anything other than returning to Greenland. Time will show how.”