Sebastiaan Felius obtained both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Twente, before the programme merged with VU Amsterdam. He graduated in 2018 and is now employed by the Netherlands’ largest shipbuilder: Damen Shipyards.
“I have always been interested in technology, from cars to boats and machines. It was clear that I had a future as an engineer, but what kind of engineer? Ultimately I was most interested in the Mechanical Engineering programme in Twente, as I felt right at home there and the degree opens up many doors. It is a strong and broad-based programme that lends itself to further specialization.”
“There were many things I enjoyed about my studies. First of all, the structure of the programme is great; during your first project you are immediately handed a welding machine in the workshop to learn more about the practical consequences of your designs. All my other educational activities were well-coordinated and the course subjects were interrelated. During my Master’s in Mechanical Engineering I received great personal supervision during my graduation project. I will also always remember the atmosphere. There is a mutual respect with the teachers, you can always drop by for questions, an explanation or to discuss something. The degree programme also has a lot to offer socially, study associations are a great resource and there’s lots to do on and off campus.”
“I did my internship at Damen Shipyards in the Middle East. The company is the largest shipbuilder in the Netherlands. Damen builds high-quality and technologically advanced ships, from small RHIBs measuring a few metres to the multi-function support ship the HNLMS Karel Doorman for the Dutch navy. The sector, the company and the opportunities all appealed to me, which is why I started my traineeship at Damen after obtaining my degree. I worked for three different branches of the company over the course of two years.”
“I now work for Damen Marine Services as a Commercial Manager. In this position you are responsible for fleet occupancy, which you ensure by travelling all over the world to various customers. I talk to clients about both technical, operational and commercial solutions to their problem and still frequently get on boats myself to be as close to the technology as possible and gain first-hand experience. It is a very diverse job!”
