Aurora Luukkanen, SUD Alumni 2024

I stumbled into urban development by chance but during my years in SUD I realised that it is the right field for me! The most fulfilling part is that the studies encompass a bit of everything, which sometimes makes it feel overwhelming and too general, but that really reflects the real world better than focusing on some niche aspect of cities. And when you’re able to engage with people on many different subject matters and scales, you can actually have a chance at solving the wicked problems of our times. 

I’ve been working in academia for over a year now as a research assistant at the University of Helsinki, alongside my master’s studies there. I work for a project called Contested Waterfront Transformations, where I’ve been drafting a theoretical paper that summarises the project. I’ve also been assisting with some articles and I’m writing my master’s thesis for the project on affordable housing on the waterfront.

I’ve definitely benefited from my SUD studies. The biggest benefit is in the group work practice that you are forced to put in. Group work is very tedious but it’s also the most reflective of what working life is like, so I’m very happy for all the lessons SUD gave me! 

I've seen people from our field go into jobs that we could never have foreseen or imagined that those jobs existed, so expect to be surprised by your path!