"I got hands-on experience in exactly what I'm studying" — Destia and University of Oulu’s partnership creates seamless routes from classroom to career

Aleksi Korpela had the chance to put his studies into practice at Destia.

"This job ties directly into my studies. I got hands-on experience in exactly what I'm studying", says Aleksi Korpela, a third-year civil engineering student at the University of Oulu.

Aleksi is more than happy with his summer job at Destia, and it's no surprise — he landed an opportunity with Finland's largest infrastructure service company and was even able to continue working part-time alongside his studies after the summer.

"I saw a construction site by the market square and noticed a Destia sign. I decided to apply for an internship with them, and I got the position. I’m glad I did — the job has been exactly what I hoped for, fun and full of learning," Aleksi says.

The University of Oulu and Destia are committed to strong, effective partnerships that offer valuable collaboration opportunities for both students and researchers. Close cooperation in research and education helps advance the construction industry and provides students with smooth transitions into the working life. These partnerships benefit everyone involved: for instance, in summer 2024, Destia received a record-breaking 300+ internship applications from University of Oulu students. Aleksi is one of many students who had the chance to apply classroom knowledge to real-world tasks.

A world of opportunity in construction

The construction industry is one of the cornerstones of Finland’s economy, offering students a wide range of job opportunities. Each year, Destia alone hires up to 300 interns, mainly for field and site management roles. The company offers work throughout the entire infrastructure lifecycle, from design and construction to maintenance. There’s a high demand for students in civil, electrical, environmental, energy, and mechanical engineering. Other fields, such as quality control, safety, communications, and HR, also have internships available.

Like Aleksi, many students continue working at Destia after their summer internships and find their ideal roles through hands-on experience.

"I've enjoyed the concrete work and studies the most. At Destia, I got to practice concrete work, and now I know it's something I want to pursue in the future."

Learning by doing

Aleksi’s passion for construction began long before his studies. He believes his prior experience helped him secure the job.

"I’ve built all sorts of things growing up in the countryside — like machinery sheds and barns. That sparked my interest in construction and was helpful during job interviews," Aleksi explains.

Through his summer job, Aleksi has gained a wide range of professional skills. As a site management trainee, he was responsible for overseeing the construction site and taking part in hands-on tasks. He learned, for example, how to organize and schedule work.

"On-site, it’s important to know the best order to complete tasks to keep things running smoothly and ensure a good result. Organizing everything was challenging but very educational."

Aleksi also highlights the importance of leadership skills. "We have a great team, which made it easy to practice leadership. I learned how to take different personalities into account and how to communicate effectively", Aleksi reflects.

When asked about his future plans, Aleksi has a clear vision. He plans to write his master’s thesis on concrete technology and hopes to work at Destia after graduation. His goal is to start in field roles and later transition to a design position.

Aleksi encourages companies to recruit students, as it’s a win-win situation. Companies get to know future talent, and students gain valuable work experience and confidence.

"The best moments are when we get to finish something as a team, and the result is great. Those memories definitely stay with you," Aleksi says with a smile.

More About Destia:

Destia is the biggest infrastructure service company in Finland and part of the global Colas Group. We design, build and maintain infrastructure that is essential for the functioning of society, such as electricity networks, bridges, roads and railways. We develop cities, telematics and lighting solutions, and offer comprehensive services for traffic and infrastructure management. Check out Destia’s open positions here.

Did you know this about construction industry innovations?

Digitalization and automation have introduced numerous innovations to the construction industry. Drones are used for site monitoring, and 3D printing is increasingly employed to manufacture construction components. Additionally, modular construction — where building parts are made in factories and assembled on-site — has significantly streamlined building processes. Source: https://www.ecom.fi/ajankohtaista/rakennusala/