On Friday 19 August, DTU welcomed a new group of students with speeches and fun games.
By Christina Tækker
There was a buzz at DTU Lyngby Campus when 2,284 new students showed up for their first day. After several years with COVID-19 restrictions, the students were once again free to dance in a circle, play guessing games, and compete to see who could eat a liquorice string the fastest without using their hands.
Wearing bright green T-shirts, students from the Polyteknisk Forening (PF) student association—at DTU known as vectors and KABS coordinators—welcomed all the new BSc Eng and BEng students to our campuses in Lyngby and Ballerup. As usual, they had organized a festive welcome in the form of both social activities, creative games, and an introduction to student life.
Dean Lars Christoffersen, President Anders Bjarklev, and PF Chair Andreas Ipsen gave the traditional speeches, which were live-streamed from the libraries on the two campuses. During the speech, the students sat together in groups on campus to listen. In his speech, Lars Christoffersen said:
“Congratulations on your admission to DTU. I look forward to meeting you all and having a good chat with you on the upcoming fresher’s trips. Know that you’re not just students of DTU—you are DTU. You are the ones who create the atmosphere and vibe here on campus. Therefore, I encourage you to sign up when new committees or student councils are announced. In this way, you can have an impact on your everyday lives.”
Andreas Ipsen also had good advice for the new students. His best advice was to simply take it easy: “When I started at DTU, I wanted to be the very best student and be good at everything. But that’s not how it works. You have to set a goal and not expect too much of yourself. Very few people manage to get top marks in all subjects, have a student job, go to the Friday bar every week, and finish within the prescribed time of study. If you try to do it all, you will quickly run out of energy. That’s why it’s important to find a good balance.”
The students gather in Grønnegården at DTU. Photo: Mikal Schlosser
We need skilled engineers
But what dreams and thoughts do the new students actually have for the coming years at DTU? We spoke to Joachim Tarras Madsen, who is starting as an undergraduate student of Life Science Engineering. He dreams of using his education to work with cell factories, proteins, and fungal cells.
Olivia Larsen, who is starting as an undergraduate student of Design and Innovation, has also thought about her future possibilities. She is hoping that her education will lead to a job in project management or to starting her own business.
One thing is certain: We need more engineers to find new sustainable solutions. In his speech to the new students, Anders Bjarklev said:
“Our world today is in desperate need of change: A green transition, new ideas, innovation—a sustainable future—and that’s why we need skilled engineers. Young people who have learned how to make a difference, to act and take responsibility. And as I stand here today and with the opportunity to speak to you all, I’m thinking: You’re here at DTU's campuses because you want to make a difference. Because you want to take action and because you take responsibility."
In the coming days, the new students will go on a fresher’s trip. This year, they can choose from five different trips. They range from a one-day trip at Lyngby Campus to a weekend trip in cabins and to a four-day fresher’s trip at Lyngby Campus or in cabins. New for this year is the option of a three-day trip. All trips offer options with or without alcohol and in Danish or English versions.
“The study start programme has been under ongoing development for many years, and the focus has shifted from binge drinking and alcohol to making everyone feel comfortable. This means that alcohol is optional and that the games are not transgressive,” says PF Chair Andreas Ipsen.
“It is now also possible to indicate whether you would like gender-specific dormitories or toilets.”