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Construction engineering student Arjun Krishna Ramkumar, attended the Introduction to AI and Machine Learning summer course by Aalto University Summer School in July 2025. He found that the unique mix of backgrounds and talents in the classroom made it an unforgettable and eye-opening course experience.

Applying AI to several different interdisciplinary fields 

Arjun found it easy to apply the topics of AI and machine learning to his own studies in construction engineering, as the course accommodates students from all study backgrounds and fields. 

‘The construction industry is currently under-utilising AI and machine learning, and I could really recognise the potential AI has in that field, especially in my home country, India. Many industries today are in a rush to add the 'AI label' to their business to boost numbers and revenue, but being a bit reflective and focusing on learning carefully can be a good approach as well,' Arjun comments.  

‘The knowledge of AI and future technologies in general is remarkable at Aalto. Dariush Salami covered a range of interdisciplinary techniques, making me even more curious about the future of AI and what kind of possibilities there are in the field in the future,’ Arjun concludes. 

A Nordic perspective on AI 

To Arjun, the course felt approachable, despite having no prior experience in computer science or coding. He also appreciated the Nordic take on technology as something new and edge-cutting 

‘The fact that I did not have previous experience with coding was the only thing that felt a bit challenging during the course, but in the end, it worked out beautifully. It turned out to be a collaborative experience, where I became the person in our student project who functioned as an ideator, intuitively generating out-of-the-box ideas,’ says Arjun. 

‘The course is curated to accommodate people from all backgrounds; business students, social scientists, psychology students, and of course, engineering students like myself. The topic was straightforward to grasp, regardless of one's background. Finland as a location for the summer course also added to the experience, as it's known for its’ advanced tech industry and innovations, which gave us access to more resources and first-hand experience from local innovators,’ Arjun comments. 

Endless possibilities  

‘I recommend that anyone apply, regardless of their background. I found it very special that everybody in the class had something to give; everyone is intelligent in their own way and can bring something to the table. We all shared the interest and eagerness to learn, which added to a very wholesome course experience,’ Arjun reflects. 

Sharing perspectives with classmates from different backgrounds, especially towards the end of the course when the students had gotten to know each other on a deeper level, is something Arjun says he will remember for a long time.  

‘The most essential part I learned during the summer course was that when you have a room full of people from diverse backgrounds and with various types of knowledge and skill sets, the possibilities become endless,’ Arjun concludes his Summer School experience.