EPS project: Focus on the process, rather than the end result

European Project Semester (EPS)

EPS is a one-semester programme designed to train third-year engineering and technology students in carrying out project work in international teams.

The programme is offered by several European universities.
It consists of 30 ECTS credits, 20 for project work and the remaining 10 for supporting courses.
The students write a project report and create a prototype that will be presented and discussed in an oral presentation.

Interfering with the airflow

Further, they plan on attaching a speaker to the wind tunnel, which will influence the pattern of the airflow, Dittmann explains.

That is because the air pressure from the speaker will have to move through the tubes and into the wind tunnel, thus interfering with the consistent airflow. Additionally, they will be able to adjust the volume and the frequency of the music with the control panel.

“We’re also adding a smoke machine so that you can actually see what the airflow looks like coming out when the volume is turned up or the frequency is changed,” she says.

The group is still not sure how the airflow will interact with the sound waves when a speaker is attached.

The smoke machine blows smoke out of the wind tunnel, which is mounted on a table. One of the students starts the machine and sticks one hand into the smoke that comes out of the machine.

“Maybe you get jet flow that’s stable for longer, or maybe it spreads out more. Maybe you destroy the entire jet flow. You don’t know unless you do complex math, or you build something like this.”

Focus on the process

“We set the meetings ourselves, and we decide how many hours we want to work. We also have two lectures a week and supporting courses,” says Hoekstra.

As well as a report, a presentation, and the project itself, the programme includes two supporting courses: “Project Planning and Management” and “Collaboration and Communication in English”. Additionally, the students have chosen to take Norwegian classes for an extra 7.5 ECTS credits.

“It’s nice not to have a gazillion other courses and just be able to focus on building something. Our exchange semester is definitely not a full-on vacation, but we still have time to do other things,” Hoekstra says.

Throughout the semester the group regularly gets feedback from their supervisor, Professor Ramis Örlü.

“Ramis has been a godsend, he’s been great. When we have needed guidance, he’s been there,” says van der Meulen.

Hoekstra adds that some students actually can do an EPS project as their bachelor’s thesis. Therefore, some groups might put in a few extra hours a week.

“What I like about the EPS project is that the focus is on the process, rather than the end result. Let’s say we build something that doesn’t work; if we can report on why it didn’t work, we won’t fail the class.”

the control panel, speaker, and smoke machine attached together at a table.

Working together

Even though they all help each other when needed, the group usually spreads out the tasks between the members based on their studies and backgrounds.

Van der Meulen has mainly been working on the smoke modules, which are almost finished. Now, he is researching how to use the project in education and demonstrations.

Lind has mainly designed and cut the wooden component of the control panel and is currently 3D-printing the legs. He has also been ordering new parts online.

Dittmann is the only one with electronics in her studies. Therefore, she designed the circuit and made the first draft of the control panel. Now she plans on soldering all the switches together, which are currently duct taped.

Hoekstra studies computer science and has therefore done most of the programming.

“But it doesn’t mean I’m only programming. Then I would be on vacation for half the semester. Even though we do the tasks linked to our studies, we don’t exclusively do that,” Hoekstra points out.

Able to do things properly

They all see value in working together as students of different nationalities and with different degrees.

“Even though two of us are from the same country, we have noticed a lot of cultural differences. Learning to communicate and work together is a big learning curve,” says Hoekstra.

Van der Meulen adds that he has learned how to work with a physical object for the first time.

“Most of my studies is designing. It’s a bit larger scale, so it’s never produced. Therefore, this project is very interesting to me. The design process is different than I expected,” he says.

“There’s a value in working together on a project over time. At least in my own university, most of the projects last for half a semester only. Everything is cram packed. On the EPS project, we have a lot more time available, and we’re able to do things properly and actually work as a group,” Hoekstra adds.

Two of the students at the 3D printer, which is printing parts for the wind tunnel.

Lots of opportunities to meet people

The EPS programme is offered in countries all over Europe, and students can choose their top priorities. Dittmann, Lind, Van der Meulen, and Hoekstra all chose Norway due to the weather, nature, and similarities to their own hometowns.

“The culture is similar, to some extent. And the weather, the scenery, and the nature are great,” explains van der Meulen.

“I wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t too warm, so Scandinavia in general seemed great to me. I especially like cold weather and winter sports, and my mother tongue is Swedish, so it’s easy for me to live here,” says Lind.

Additionally, they’ve had the time to travel to other Norwegian cities like Bergen and Trondheim, as well as Austria and Iceland.

Luckily, the students have also found it easy to meet new people and make friends in Norway.

“There’s a lot of opportunities to meet people. We got to know many students during the “Buddy Week” for all new students at OsloMet, and there’s a bunch of events to choose from on the event calendar,” Dittmann says.

A student works with the control panel with his hands. We see wires and meters that are to be mounted.

Perfect if you like building

Van der Meulen especially recommends the EPS course to students who prefer or want to learn how to work in groups with different people.

“It’s also perfect if you like designing and building things. Basically, all EPS projects involve working on physical things,” adds Hoekstra.

At the end of the semester, the students get to demonstrate the wind tunnel in the Green Energy Lab at OsloMet, and after submitting their report by the end of May they have a final presentation of their project at the beginning of June.

“We also plan to have a small test group of students to see if the wind tunnel can be used by students to perform experiments,” adds Dittmann.

At the top of the article you can see from the left Jelte Hoekstra, Finja Dittmann, Robin Lind, and Noud van der Meulen, that all have come to Norway and OsloMet for an EPS exchange semester.