A Paper International Experience: Rick Conner Reflects on Studying Abroad in Finland

NC State students enrolled in the Paper Science and Engineering program travel abroad every two years to gain an international perspective on pulp and paper manufacturing operations.

Rick Conner, a senior majoring in paper science and engineering, was one of 46 students to travel to Finland as part of the most recent Paper International Experience (PIE) in 2023.

As part the program, Conner and his peers toured various pulp and paper mills, research centers and universities across the country. They also enjoyed sauna boats and other cultural experiences.

We recently asked Conner about his experience in Finland — from his decision to study abroad to how it helped prepare him for a career in paper science and engineering. Check out the Q&A below.

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I went on the PIE trip because I thought it would be a great opportunity to see how college and professional life differs between Finland and the United States. I had looked at the various stops we would take during the trip and was interested in talking to the students at Aalto University and Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences as well as learning from the engineers at Valmet and other sites. Additionally, I am a cold-weather kind of person, so spending two weeks of my summer in Finland instead of Raleigh was definitely a bonus in my mind to escape the humidity.

What was your favorite part of the trip? 

My favorite part of the trip was the multiple sauna visits. Due to Finland’s colder climate, sauna visits are a key part of the day that gives you the opportunity to warm up, socialize with friends and family, and decompress from the day’s work. Our cohort had the opportunity to sauna in hotels, on a sauna boat, and at a sauna lake house. I highly recommend taking a cold plunge right after a sauna session as the temperature shock is invigorating and can wake you up for any evening activities. 

What is a moment of your trip that you will never forget? 

This may seem small but one of the best moments of the trip for me was at a bar near the hotel we stayed at. The back of the bar had a poker table with some chips, and I was able to organize a group of eight classmates to play. It was a great bonding moment as we had the eight players as well as some other classmates who were spectating and learning the game as we played. I was able to connect with some of my peers that I hadn’t really had the opportunity to talk to previously on the trip and had a great time relaxing with my friends and playing cards.

What did you learn about yourself through this trip?

One thing that I learned about myself is that I absolutely love the paper industry and am excited to see what new innovations will present themselves in the next 30 or so years. The trip had our group visiting both active production sites and research and development sites, and some of the lectures had me excited about the future of sustainable manufacturing. As mentioned in another answer, I joined a Finnish company for my first job and am looking forward to optimizing production lines across the U.S., simultaneously increasing paper production and lessening our carbon footprint.

Were you surprised by anything during your time abroad? 

I was surprised at the variety of food that Finns eat for breakfast. Breakfast for my family is a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Our breakfasts in Finland consisted of a variety of smoked fish, cheese, fruits and pastries. Granted, we stayed at hotels which may differ from the traditional Finnish homestyle breakfast. Even so, Finland’s hotel breakfast is vastly different than the American hotel experience. 

What new skills or information did you learn during your trip? 

There were several informative presentations both at the universities and some of the paper mills we visited. One that really made an impression on me was at Aalto University, where there is ongoing research aimed at optimizing paper machine press roll measurement and control systems. We were given a lecture on the benefits of monitoring how the press section rolls are changing over time. This is an often-overlooked task at many U.S. mills that can have serious implications. If a press section roll unexpectedly fails, for example, it can take the production line out of commission for sometimes days or weeks at a time. We were taught that vibrational analysis is one of the best ways to determine the lifespan of a press roll and also an excellent method of quickly seeing if something has changed in the shape of the rolls. A misshapen roll will much more quickly wear out and fail unexpectedly as the forces exerted on the roll are not applied evenly across it, but rather focused on one spot, causing it to wear and tear more rapidly.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?

The PIE program directly affected my career because due to this trip, I discovered the company that I will be working for after graduation. The program had us visit both Finnish universities and paper company sites. One such site we had the opportunity to visit was Valmet’s production and research and development site in Jyväskylä. There we learned about Valmet’s operations, specifically on making press rolls. I was very impressed with the company culture and the quality of its products and decided to intern for Valmet in Atlanta, Georgia this past summer. I then interviewed for a full-time position and will be a process control engineer starting in 2025. 

What advice would you give to students considering studying abroad for the first time?

Do it. There’s a lot to be said about seeing how people in other parts of the world go about their lives. I think it’s especially important from an academic standpoint because for me and the others on this trip we were able to see how Finnish papermakers focus on different parts of the process than we do. For instance, as I previously said, the Finns focus some of their research efforts on press roll optimization, whereas in the U.S. I see more focus on fiber fibrillation and how that can improve the papermaking process. I understand there is a certain financial burden associated with study abroad trips, but the Paper Science and Engineering program and other NC State programs offer multiple scholarships to those looking to go abroad.