‘Being part of VIRTUe totally enriched my student life’

Let's begin with the highlight of your time at this student team since the team recently won a fantastic prize…

“The three intense years of hard work and making many connections came together in the competition. That was really the milestone we'd been working towards. Our motivated group of 45 team members spent seven weeks in Wuppertal, Germany, where we had to complete challenge after challenge for the Solar Decathlon. For example, we rebuilt our prototype house in 14 days and, over three weeks, demonstrated it to 150,000 visitors. Meanwhile, we collected more than 800 points and received ten awards from the expert jury. In the end, we finished second overall!

Of course, these figures don't tell the whole story. For us as individuals and a team, the competition was an intense growth process, a daily roller coaster ride of emotions. But it also offered a unique opportunity to get to know students from all over the world, all working towards the same goal. For myself, the competition and winning the awards feel like a crowning achievement of three years of hard work.

What is VIRTUe's goal, and what was your role in the team?

“Our mission is to  normalize low-impact living and reduce both the industry's and normal people's CO2 emissions via future-proof, sustainable buildings. So, it's not just about constructing a sustainable building; we also want to make people aware of their lifestyle and consumption. I've been involved in the core team as spokesperson and PR manager since the beginning. I take care of all communication-related matters.”

How much time do you spend on that?

“I've recently been working on the project full-time, so between 40 and 60 hours per week. That increased now towards the competition. Throughout the project, I followed courses along with my work at VIRTUe. I was spending 20 to 40 hours a week on those.”

What did you learn from your time on the team?

“How much time do you have? Some key skills I learned are leadership, management, and what comes with it – planning, time management, delegation, efficient task division, and transparent communication. I also gained a lot of experience in communications, a field I've become extremely passionate about. I improved my pitching and presenting skills and learned the art of conveying a unique story.”

Were there low points too?

“During the project, we naturally went through moments of crisis, in all its phases, like lack of motivation and resources. The pandemic and the postponement of the competition came as major setbacks. To solve those problems, we had to make compromises, but that strengthened us as a team.”

Did your time with the team influence your future studies or career?

“Working at VIRTUe totally enriched my student life. As an international student, it was a great help for networking and contacts within the industry. I cannot yet say whether VIRTUe has helped my career, but I'm 100% sure the experience will benefit my fellow students and me in the future.

I'm going to begin a master's degree in Architecture in Delft, but I'm curious to see whether I will actually become an architect, or continue to develop in the communication field. The current team might expand our VIRTUe project into a startup. Nothing is certain yet, but maybe I'll join that. We'll see what the future brings…”

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about joining a student team?

“Don't hesitate, just do it! A student team will enrich and challenge you. Not only will you develop key skills for your career, you will also work on a real project in the field you're passionate about. And besides that, you get to work in a multidisciplinary environment of motivated, smart students, who will very soon become your close friends.”