Name: Luc铆a LLaneza-Iglesias
Programme: Master鈥檚 Programme in Sustainability Engineering & Management, graduated in 2025.
Job: Project Interface Manager at Hitachi Energy in Switzerland.
Why did you choose Link枚ping University and your study programme?
I knew that I wanted to specialise in sustainability, but back then I was particularly interested in the management and communication side of engineering rather than purely technical specialisation. The Sustainability Engineering and Management programme felt like the perfect fit, and Sweden's reputation in its commitment to a more sustainable future made it an easy choice.I was also looking for an international environment where I could meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, inside and outside of the classroom. LiU offered exactly that. Our class and the campus was very diverse, and meeting people from all over the world was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
What was your experience of studying and student life in Link枚ping?
I absolutely loved it. Academically, the programme was exactly what I was looking for. During my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, I spent what for me felt like a lot of time in laboratories, especially in my final year.For my master's, I wanted something broader that focused more on systems thinking, sustainability and collaboration. The mix of lectures, discussions and group projects suited me very well.
As for student life, I moved to Link枚ping directly from Istanbul, where I had been on exchange, so the cultural contrast was huge on every level. However, living in a student corridor with mostly Swedish students made it much easier to understand the culture, make friends and feel at home. I would recommend that living experience to anyone considering studying abroad. There are different student areas, but in my case I lived in Flamman, and honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.
Is there a memory from your time at LiU that has stayed with you?
It's difficult to choose just one. One thing that stands out is my first Swedish winter. Coming originally from Spain, I wasn't used to the darkness, and adapting was not always easy. But every Sunday evening my corridor would get together for fika. We'd talk about our week, share our highs and lows, eat and sometimes watch a film together. Looking back, these are some of my happiest memories from Link枚ping.What do you do today, and what does your work involve?
After finishing my master's degree, I joined a graduate programme at Hitachi Energy, which eventually led me into the world of HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current). HVDC is one of the key technologies supporting the energy transition. It enables electricity to be transmitted efficiently over hundreds or even thousands of kilometres and helps connect renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind farms and hydropower plants, to the places where the energy is needed most.Today, I have two roles within an HVDC project. The first is Project Interface Manager. In this role, together with another colleague, our job is to ensure that Hitachi Energy's designs align with those of the other companies working on the project. It is a technical role where I'm constantly learning, as it gives me a great overview of the entire system and requires a lot of coordination across different engineering disciplines. At the same time, I'm also the Sustainability Manager for the project. This means that I oversee sustainability requirements coming from regulations, client contracts and company commitments, and help translate them into practical actions within the project. I also work on initiatives that can help reduce our environmental footprint and improve the overall sustainability performance of the project.
What I enjoy most about both roles is that they combine technology, problem-solving and communication. A large part of my day involves working with people from different backgrounds, disciplines and countries, which keeps things interesting and challenging.
