As someone used to Monaco’s slower-paced lifestyle, joining IE University was quite the culture shock for Daniel Kumlin. He grew up in the second-smallest country in the world and spent the holidays boating and off-piste skiing around Sweden or fishing with his dad. So when he enrolled in the Bachelor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Daniel decided to spend his first year in Segovia—a picturesque historical town with the right environment to help him ease into big-city life before making the move from Segovia to Madrid.
Daniel wanted to study in a familiar natural setting, and Segovia more than fit the bill. A famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Segovia is surrounded by lush, green landscapes, rocky bluffs and stunning views of the Eresma River. Also, “It’s a lot less hard to meet people,” he told us. “Especially in a program like mine. This very low barrier to talking to new people and having a good time was really good for me.”
Building connections that last from Segovia to Madrid
As a result, many meaningful connections were built during this first year. Those relationships have stayed strong, especially now that Daniel’s made the transition to learning at IE Tower in Madrid. As a major European city, life in the Spanish capital moves quickly, boasting a vibrant, dynamic feel that holds its own unique charm. Luckily, Daniel already had a built-in support system when his second-year classes started, which helped him navigate the challenges of settling in such a large urban center for the first time.
“[I chose IE University because] I wanted something international, with people from all over the world. The idea of learning in English, in an environment that encourages entrepreneurship, really attracted me.”
A lot has happened since then, and this driven student is now well into his third year in the program. He’s always seen himself as a builder, so the chance to gain hands-on skills in developing innovative solutions has been invaluable. What’s more, he gets to do so in a thoroughly diverse community, finding new ideas from unique perspectives from around the world.
The small class sizes offered by the Bachelor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence have allowed Daniel to thrive. He finds that they foster more interaction, which enriches learning and helps students nurture stronger bonds. Additionally, they align with the program’s “Learning by Doing” philosophy, allowing learners to collaborate on practical projects with real-world applications.
A winning project
One of these projects recently won big at the Tech Venture Bootcamp. Students, researchers and business leaders come together for this six-day workshop to devise innovative startup ideas using generative AI. The Bootcamp cultivates a resilient entrepreneurial spirit, preparing students for the tech venture and startup landscape. For this event, Daniel and his team designed Sunship, an AI-powered project management tool that fits the needs of utility-scale solar power project developers. Their efforts earned them first place in the final contest.
Through it all, Daniel has enjoyed turning his hobbies of video games and building things and his passion for computers into a viable career. While he’s still defining his future path, this budding visionary knows that he wants to work in tech, developing innovative software solutions for today’s biggest challenges. Specifically, Daniel hopes to use his skill set to tackle key environmental issues in the sustainability space. “I feel like I’m on the right track,” he explains. “It took some time, but I’ve found my rhythm.”
