Lea puts her academic knowledge into practice at Head Energy UP

This summer, Lea Stakkeland has gained practical experience in urban and regional planning as a summer intern at Head Energy UP. She is now bringing new insights and perspectives back to NMBU for the final year of her degree.

Lea Stakkeland is studying Urban and Regional Planning at NMBU in Ås and will begin the fifth year of her integrated master’s programme this autumn.

Before starting her final year, she wanted to gain practical experience and a better understanding of how the knowledge acquired through her studies is applied in the workplace. Her summer internship at Head Energy UP gave her exactly that opportunity:

– ​​I wanted to see how what I have learned at university is applied in real-world projects. Head Energy works on many different types of projects, which I found really exciting. I also liked the fact that the company brings together several disciplines, allowing me to see how planning fits into the wider project process, Lea says.

Real-world assignments and new tools

Throughout the summer, Lea has contributed to a range of projects, working on planning statements, mobility plans, and risk and vulnerability assessments.

Planning statements have been among the tasks she has enjoyed the most:

– They are often my first introduction to a project, giving me the opportunity to familiarise myself thoroughly with the area and the proposed solutions. I enjoy doing the research and developing a comprehensive understanding of the project before the rest of the work begins, she explains.

The summer internship has also given her the opportunity to learn new software and working methods. Among other things, Lea has gained experience using AutoCAD and creating illustrations in Adobe Illustrator.

– It is valuable to add more software tools to my skill set. I also really enjoy creating illustrations because it allows me to be creative while exploring how information can be communicated clearly and visually.

Bringing new experience back to her studies

The summer has given Lea a fresh perspective on subjects she had previously encountered mainly through her studies.

– I now have a better understanding of what day-to-day working life can look like, and I have seen how theories and concepts I had previously only read about are actually applied in projects. When I return to university, I think it will be easier to draw clearer connections between theory and practice.

One of the things that surprised her most was the importance of written communication in planning work.

– Before I started, I imagined the work would involve more drawing and technical tasks. I was surprised by how much of it involves writing, and by how important it is to communicate clearly and structure reports effectively. It has given me a new perspective on working life and shown me just how central good written communication is to planning, she says.

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– Everyone has made me feel very welcome

The transition from student life to a regular working week has also been a valuable experience:

– At university, the days are often more flexible, whereas working life requires greater structure and sustained responsibility. At the same time, I have had the opportunity to spend time on the projects and really familiarise myself with them. This has given me a deeper understanding of the work and the processes than is always possible at university, where teaching can be more fragmented and access to guidance more limited.

She also highlights the working environment and the support she has received as important parts of her summer experience.

– Everyone has made me feel very welcome. It is an inclusive team, and I have been given relevant assignments and received excellent guidance whenever I needed it.

For Eva Kaldestad Esbensen, Managing Director of Head Energy UP, it is important that summer interns have the opportunity to contribute to the company’s day-to-day project work:

– We want our summer interns to work on real assignments. They should have the opportunity to apply what they have learned through their studies while taking on new challenges and developing their skills along the way. At the same time, we benefit greatly from welcoming students who bring fresh perspectives and ask insightful questions, Eva says.

Lea is now taking her new experience back to Ås as she begins the final year of her master’s degree. Her advice to other students considering a summer internship at Head Energy is clear:

– Apply! Head Energy is an exciting and growing company, and it is great to be part of such a dynamic environment. You gain relevant experience while also learning about several different disciplines, Lea concludes.

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