Petro Kazmirchuk
Ukraine

"The courses I have taken provide me with a broad view on the domain that will definitely help me in further in-depth learning."

While working as a software engineer at Terma B.V. in the Netherlands, Petro Kazmirchuk participated in two online courses in the field of Aerospace Engineering: Spaceflight - a technical primer and Spacecraft Technology. Read about his experience.

What was your motivation for enrolling in these courses?
I have been working for nearly 2 years as a software engineer in the space industry. Despite having all the knowledge I need for my everyday work, I realize that further career development might be difficult without fundamental knowledge of the space domain. Being a qualified programmer is only half of the story. With a broader understanding of space and spacecraft systems and technologies, I can improve my understanding of the market, of customers’ needs, and I can take part in various work tasks in my company. So, further education is vital for my career.

In the world of software development most of the knowledge you need is out there online, both in online resources and online communities. However, when it comes to niche topics in the space domain, learning sources and communities are somewhat scarce. The courses I have taken provide me with a broad view on the domain that will definitely help me in further in-depth learning.

How would you describe your online learning experience?
The quality of presentations topped my expectations, the videos are easy to follow and understand. Various course tasks assist in practicing calculations and preparing for the exam. I also had a chance to attend the on-campus sessions together with regular students at TU Delft, that I enjoyed very much. The course on Spacecraft Technology includes a group assignment, so I was learning and collaborating with other professionals having different backgrounds, which was refreshing experience. I look forward to more online courses from TU Delft!