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Why did you choose to study in the Master's Programme in Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation?
I always knew I wanted to pursue a master’s degree. After completing my preschool teacher program, I discovered that studying education was incredibly exciting. This field holds particular relevance in our region, where substantial tax funding supports the school system. Moreover, our educational practices are deeply rooted in tradition and ideology, making it fascinating to analyze their impact.
As a preschool teacher, I often questioned established practices and whether they achieved the intended outcomes. This master’s program equipped me with the skills to evaluate the effectiveness of such practices. Even if it didn’t always provide direct answers, it gave me the tools and frameworks to explore and address these questions critically.
Another key reason for choosing this program was my desire to develop quantitative skills that would make me a strong candidate for jobs requiring such expertise. The program’s extensive use of R programming across courses provided me with a significant advantage in the job market. I also found that learning a programming language follows the same logic as learning any other language—once you master one, it becomes easier to learn additional frameworks.
What did you write about in your thesis?
My thesis applied the Item Response Theory (IRT) framework and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) with an intersectional approach. Using data from the International Large Scale Assessment (TIMSS), I investigated whether differences in science achievement between boys and girls, considering their immigration status, could be explained by individual test items functioning differently across these groups.
Where do you work now, how did you find this job, and what is your job title?
I currently work as a Data and AI Consultant at an IT consultancy company called twoday. I found this job through a Google search while trying to locate a different company mentioned by an alumna. I’m glad I stumbled upon twoday because their recruitment process for the graduate program starts and finishes almost a year before the actual start date. By securing an offer in October 2023, I was able to fully focus on my studies during my final semester.
What are your current tasks, and how are you liking them?
I’m currently contracted by Lovisenberg Hospital, where I primarily work on business intelligence projects. My responsibilities include maintaining and developing their data platform, creating apps, and providing insights to various departments such as medical staff, HR, and finance.
I absolutely love my job! It allows me to learn new technologies, apply my expertise, and deepen my understanding of business logic through data.
How do you make use of your Master's Degree in your current position?
The most valuable skill I gained was learning to code in R, which provided a strong foundation for picking up SQL, a language I use daily. My degree also taught me how to approach large datasets and understand how different data sources can be interrelated. This knowledge has been especially useful in my current project at Lovisenberg Hospital, where answering most queries require you to source and relate data from various sources in order for the business to gain important insights.
If you were to give some advice to new students in this program, especially regarding finding a job, what would you say?
Apply to twoday, haha! But in all seriousness, consider applying to a graduate program in analytics. These programs provide mentorship and continuous learning opportunities. One thing many graduates miss after leaving university is the constant intellectual stimulation—graduate programs help fill that gap.
One thing I wish I had done earlier was to start looking for summer projects or jobs during the first year of the program. Two years go by so fast, and you really only have the first year to secure interesting summer opportunities before graduation. Gaining practical experience early on helps you get a foot in the door and is incredibly valuable when searching for jobs after completing your master’s degree.
Most importantly, don’t be discouraged by the list of skills in job advertisements. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, apply anyway—and apply to as many positions as possible. You often have more to offer than you realize!