From VIA to a Scandinavian career in water treatment

After graduating from Climate and Supply Engineering at VIA University College, I began my career in Denmark. Since then, my interest in water has taken me to Sweden and Norway, where I now work with drinking water treatment at Rambøll.

Starting my career in Denmark

After completing my bachelor’s degree at VIA, I joined WSP Denmark as a junior engineer in the groundwater and soil pollution department in Aarhus.

My connection with WSP began while I was still studying. One of my professors thought I would be a good fit for the company and helped put us in contact. This led to a position as a student worker and, after graduation, a full-time job.

At WSP, I worked on projects involving new wellfields and boreholes for drinking water treatment plants. The projects required close collaboration between engineers, geophysicists and geologists. I also became involved in the design and renovation of waterworks in Denmark.

The experience gave me a strong professional foundation and confirmed that I wanted to specialise further in water and wastewater treatment.

Exploring the Scandinavian water sector

After working at WSP for approximately two years, I was ready to deepen my expertise and gain more international experience.

I therefore pursued a double master’s degree through Nordic Five Tech, studying at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg.

Studying in two Scandinavian countries allowed me to explore the water sector from different perspectives and meet specialists from across the field. I also wrote my master’s thesis in collaboration with a major drinking water treatment plant in Sweden.

Working with drinking water in Norway

After completing my master’s degree, I had the opportunity to return to Trondheim and join the Water Treatment Team at the Danish-founded company Rambøll.

Norway is currently investing significantly in its water and wastewater infrastructure. New national regulations and stricter requirements for drinking water safety are creating many interesting projects and career opportunities. Combined with my interest in nature and outdoor activities, this made Norway an attractive place for the next step in my career.

Today, my work primarily focuses on drinking water treatment. My projects range from designing new treatment plants to assessing and optimising existing treatment processes.

Because Rambøll operates internationally, our department often collaborates with colleagues in Sweden and Denmark. This allows us to exchange knowledge and approaches across Scandinavia and find the best solutions for each project.

An international journey that began at VIA

Moving from Italy to Denmark to study at VIA was the beginning of my international education and career.

I chose Climate and Supply Engineering because I wanted to try something new and embark on a more adventurous journey. I was attracted by the subjects covered by the programme and its practical approach. The opportunity to complete an internship was particularly important to me, and my internship took me all the way to Greenland.

Studying at VIA also introduced me to the Danish approach to education and working life. The relationship between students and lecturers is based on equality, and I experienced the same open culture when I entered the workplace.

Since graduating, my journey has taken me from Denmark to Sweden and Norway, but water has remained the common thread. From groundwater and wellfields to advanced drinking water treatment, I have continued to build on the knowledge, practical experience and professional network I gained during my studies at VIA.