SAFER Student Story by Md Riad Arefin Himel
Greetings, My name is Md Riad Arefin Himel, and I am a master’s student at Tampere University, studying in the Safety Management and Engineering program. I’m from Rangpur (southern part of Bangladesh), however now I call Hervanta home. Outdoor sports, going on hikes, traveling to new places, reading good books, and going to the sauna are some of my favorite things to do in my spare time.
I received my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh’s Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology. Soon after, I joined the job market and spent some time working as a production engineer. Later, I worked in technical sales, worked on some projects, and even did some installation and commissioning work. My total professional experience exceeds three years.
The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster completely shifted my perspective on the importance of safety. While pursuing my bachelor’s degree, I found myself most interested in the field of safety management. With over three years of experience under my belt, my enthusiasm for the topic of safety management has only grown. Finland has a lot of good ways to manage workplace safety. I’m sure that while I’m studying in Finland, I’ll have the chance to learn from some of the best safety experts in the world.
What does security/safety mean to you?
I think of safety in a more comprehensive sense. A person’s life can be altered not just by safety-related technical causes but by any number of other factors. The same is true for an entire nation, or even the world. Therefore, the issue of safety is more crucial than it may first appear. And I want to make the world a safer place.
As a freshman, I am only beginning to familiarize myself with the various academic fields and the opportunities they present. Risk analysis, enterprise health, safety, environmental and quality management, and safety engineering are now the areas that most pique my interest. Yet, I believe that once I have completed the master’s program, I will have a much broader understanding of many other fields. After that, I may settle on a single discipline from which to build a career.
What would you say to someone planning to study this program?
Even before I applied, I was also interested in learning more about the study and its outcomes. After nearly four years away from academic studies, I was concerned about whether or not I would enjoy the program and how well I would do. But now that I’m a student here, I know that coming to Tampere University and studying Safety Management and Engineering was the best choice I could have made.
This university has engaging classes and a supportive community of faculty and peers. The institution offers a wide variety of cultural immersion programs for its overseas students. Outside of class, one’s mind can be recharged by Tampere’s serenity. A sense of calmness and happiness coexist in the city. If you’re still on the fence about what you want to study and where you want to go to university, I’m confident that you won’t be disappointed once you get here.
The application process was smooth sailing for me. Both studyinfo and the university’s website provided in-depth explanations of the admissions process. Although the application procedure is straightforward and quick, I still think one should get started as soon as possible after the application period starts.
