Jenna Tuominen, SUD Alumni 2024
SUD was my first university degree. I studied in the SOC stream but did the Engineering for SUD -courses as my minor. My bachelor’s thesis then again focused on the ludic (playful) potential of urban environments for adults. I found the Urban Labs and thesis writing to be perhaps most fulfilling, as they challenged me the most. In autumn 2024 I started my master’s degree on Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Helsinki. Currently I am on exchange in Berlin studying Historical Urban Studies for half a year.
At the beginning of 2024 I worked as a research assistant at the BEN faculty in Tampere University, helping with research projects relating to construction management for example. This summer 2025 I worked for the city of Vantaa as a street inspector in the city’s infrastructure maintenance department, but I also helped with the urban green areas' maintenance department.
I think SUD gave me a sturdy foundation for understanding complexities and interrelations of urban development phenomena. Having learned about urban blue and green networks, segregation, participatory planning, road infrastructure and real estate development, to name a few, helped me find meaning and have constructive discussions working for the city, even if the job was maintenance- and not planning -related. Also, multidisciplinary working skills that SUD taught me actively help me work effectively with others now in my master’s studies. After SUD I have a broad understanding of urban development and can see better which areas I am most interested in pursuing deeper. Thanks to SUD my group working skills improved a lot, I better recognize my personal strengths and areas for improvement, while also knowing how to effectively collaborate with peers from other fields.
No matter what you do after your bachelor's degree, I believe having studied SUD will help you tremendously and perhaps in unexpected ways, in whatever your next steps are in life. Seriously, all the multidisciplinary knowledge and international communication skills are highly beneficial in whatever master's degree or internship etc. you might do.