AMAZING OLIN

STUDENT IN DE KIJKER

“My semester at Olin College of Engineering was for sure the highlight of my study in engineering technology at KU Leuven. I believe universities, professors and students have so much to get out of this new educational concept. I am very grateful to Group T Campus to give me such an opportunity”, declared Gwendal Plumier after his return to Leuven. “I can recommend all my fellow students to go there and enjoy the Olin way of teaching and learning”.

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is a young undergraduate college in Needham (Massachusetts). In the engineering community, it is famous for its dynamic, small size, project-based curriculum. In 2019, Olin College appeared again in Princeton Review’s list of top colleges. Olin made the top ten in 6 different categories, including ‘Professors get High Marks’ and ‘Best Classroom Experience’.

Warm welcome

“I found Olin College on my institute’s website, where there is a list of partner universities by country”, Gwendal continues. “As I always dreamed to study in the United States, I applied for Olin. Since I believe that engineering includes much more than just mathematics and scientific courses, I was immediately fascinated by the Olin approach, experimenting with new forms of engineering education. I chose three project-based courses, which is a learning method not widely offered at Belgian universities”.

From the first day on campus, Gwendal felt warmly welcomed to the Olin community. “Consequently, I met many students very quickly. I really liked the suite life with fellow students. It has offered me the opportunity to become familiar with American culture and way of life”.

Project-based learning

“Much of Olin College’s curriculum is built around hands-on engineering and design projects”, Gwendal tells. “One of my projects, for instance, consisted of developing a tether that would allow a runner who is blind to communicate with his guide in trails and road runs. Long discussions with my team mates, prototypes and many trials resulted in a successful device and a manual enabling visual disabled people and their surroundings to build their own tether”. “I also had the chance to work with design programs from the Adobe Creative suite, as well as sciencerelated material, such as electron microscopes”

Classes are often taught by two professors, side-by-side. A so-called ‘Ninja’ – this is a student – is at your disposal for assistance if needed. You can take integrated course blocks that teach engineering, calculus and physics by exploring the relationships among the three subjects. At the beginning of the first year, students receive training in Olin’s machine shop for project-based work. For example, if you take the course ‘Design Nature’ you are required to design and build mechanical toys based on biological systems, such as the click beetle’s jumping mechanism.”

“Another major advantage of studying at Olin is that you can make free use of all kinds of equipment, varying from professional cameras to textile screen printing machines. The university library is open 24 hours a day and activities are organized there every Wednesday to share knowledge with your fellow students. From Photoshop to programming, you will learn from everyone around a nice pizza”.

Learning by doing and vice versa

“Classes often take a do-learn format, with the application of concepts being taught before the formal introduction of the underlying theory. Other distinctive features of the Olin’s academic culture are freedom and trust. Students often take exams on their own time, without the supervision of proctors. I did not have to take any exams; I was evaluated on my projects and on a daily basis. Preparation was needed for every class. In general, the academic atmosphere is highly informal.

Gwendal Plumier

Entrepreneurship

“Furthermore, Olin has an expansive view of entrepreneurship”, Gwendal continues. “Throughout the curriculum the teaching of engineering is connected to entrepreneurship encouraging students to put the customers and their needs at the forefront of everything they undertake. During my stay at Olin, I had the opportunity to follow a course on ‘Entrepreneurship & Opportunities’ at Babson College, ranked the most prestigious entrepreneurship college in the United States”.

Students’ life

Gwendal soon discovered that learning is not limited to the classroom. “As Olin College constitutes a bid and sound community, learning happens everywhere: in group experiences, faculty-led classes, student-led independent studies and cocurriculars where students from different majors work together. Learning also happens in student clubs and organizations – ranging from highly structured engineering competition teams to service organizations, social clubs and sport teams – in exploring the boundaries of knowledge and innovation working on research projects with faculty members- and – last but not least – by pursuing new ideas and passions through independent studies. Believe me; learning in all of these contexts is fun. It let students work on things they are excited about. These activities inspire creativity and equip students to use what they have learned. At the end of each semester, student work is celebrated at the Olin Expo, a real happening where students share the project they are most excited about. All this makes the workload quite intense, but at the same time, it is challenging you permanently. In short, the Olin experience has exceeded all my expectations”.

Yves Persoons