Ebin on the Master's Programme in Innovation and Design

Understanding – and shaping – innovation systems

Ebin had followed Sweden’s innovation development from a distance for many years. When he decided to complement his professional background with academic perspectives, the choice was clear.

Sweden has been a global leader in innovation for a long time. When I wanted to build on my experience with a more academic perspective, it felt natural to come here.

His choice landed on Mälardalen University and the Eskilstuna campus.

I wanted to study in a smaller city where it’s easy to settle into both your studies and everyday life. Eskilstuna offers close access to nature, while Stockholm is still within reach. For this particular programme, MDU was the natural choice for me in Sweden, and it turned out to be a very good choice.

Studies shaped by real-world projects and personal responsibility

Ebin describes his time as a student as intense – but above all, enjoyable.

If I had to describe my studies in one word, it would be: fun. It was intense, but in the right way.

Teaching was closely connected to real-world contexts, and the courses were designed to build on one another.

All our projects were connected to what’s happening outside the university. The courses helped us understand things in depth, and because they were interconnected, the learning felt much more cohesive.

Our everyday schedule included a limited number of timetabled sessions and a lot of independent work. We usually had three to four teaching sessions per week. The rest of the time was spent on self-study, project work, and long hours in the library.

Classroom diversity – the programme’s greatest strength

For Ebin, the people he studied with were one of the highlights of the programme.

We were 17 students from 16 different nationalities, with backgrounds from both the Global North and the Global South. The group included architects, engineers, designers, social scientists, people with backgrounds in medicine and air traffic control.

That diversity created an incredible sense of community. We became friends, learned together, and worked on many projects as a team. That peer learning was the best part of the entire programme.

Challenges met together

The programme placed high demands on students, both in terms of pace and content.

The biggest challenges were the tempo and some of the more complex concepts. But the lecturers were very supportive – both during the programme and afterwards. They were always open to discussing how theory could be applied in practice.

Collaboration with classmates proved essential.

We often stayed late in the library together to finish assignments. That built strong bonds and really developed our ability to work collaboratively.

An education embedded in the innovation ecosystem

During his studies, Ebin had the opportunity to work closely with **MITC – Mälardalen Innovation and Technology Center**, a collaboration platform linked to MDU that brings together academia, manufacturing industry and technology startups.

Through MDU and MITC, I had a place right in the middle of the Swedish innovation ecosystem – not just as an observer, but as an active participant.

His master’s thesis focused on how manufacturing companies can create value through collaboration with technology startups – a topic closely connected to his practical work.

The project courses and courses like Human-Centered Design gave us the chance to test our academic knowledge in real-life contexts and see results straight away.

From studies to work in innovation environments

After graduating, Ebin continued working within the innovation ecosystem.

I started as a student technologist at MITC during my studies, and after my thesis I was able to continue there. Today, I work with needs analysis and matchmaking between startups, technology companies and manufacturing firms, continuing my research as Industrial PhD looking deeper how collaboration works in innovation ecosystem.

What I’m best at is connecting people and being embedded in the ecosystem. That’s where I can create the most value.

Advice for future students

Ebin’s advice is clear: be prepared – mentally and in terms of your goals.

The programme is designed so that you can shape your own direction. But that means you need to know what you want to get out of your studies. It requires active engagement – it’s not a programme where you passively absorb information. It’s built for people who want to take responsibility for their own learning.

At the same time, he highlights the study environment as a major strength.

Small classes, a strong sense of community, and close links to Sweden’s innovation ecosystem make this programme unique. For the right person, it’s incredibly rewarding.

Master's Programme in Innovation and Design