Ep. 44 - Are Degrees Worthwhile?

About this episode

The episode discusses the role of education in engineering and open hardware, comparing the value of degrees to practical experience.

In this episode of the Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast, Stephen and Lucy talk about the role education plays in engineering and open hardware. They share their own experiences, what they gained from pursuing degrees, what they learned outside of school, and how both shaped their careers. They get into the cost of formal education, the value of personal projects, and the lessons that only come from real-world work. Join them as they explore when a degree is necessary and when practical experience can be just as powerful. You’ll hear: The ups and downs of earning an engineering degree How different educational paths influenced their careers Why side projects matter for learning and growth Ways to balance classroom learning with hands-on experience Thoughts on job hunting with or without a degree --- Join the conversation and share your thoughts at  hardware.cafe . Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at  podcast@opulo.io . We'd love to hear from you! To find out more about what we do, check out  Opulo.io . To see everything else we do, including social media, check out  Opulo.start.page . O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here! Intro…

People in this episode

Hosts: Stephen, Lucy

Topics covered

• education in engineering
• value of degrees
• practical experience
• personal projects
• career development
• job hunting

Keywords

• engineering degree
• education
• open hardware
• career paths
• real-world experience
• job hunting
• personal projects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast, Opulo

Books & works: Complicate Ya

More episodes of Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast

• Ep. 46 - Deciding What to Work on Next · November 14, 2025 · 1h 10m
• Ep. 45 - Advertising · October 2, 2025 · 44 min
• Ep. 43 - Collaboration in Open Source · August 28, 2025 · 45 min
• Ep. 42 - Certifications · July 18, 2025 · 1h 9m
• Ep. 41 - Surviving the Bus Test · June 19, 2025 · 39 min
• Ep. 40 - Influential Media · June 5, 2025 · 1h 21m