A day of celebration and goodbyes

Last Thursday’s MSc Graduation Day was for me a day to feel proud of being part of TU Delft. This graduation ceremony is held exclusively for foreign MSc students who have ventured to Delft to complete their two-year MSc degree. It just so happened that this year I too was one of these graduating students.

I remember waking up last Thursday morning and feeling that this was the day I had been waiting for since I first set foot on campus two years ago, not knowing what new experiences were in store for me. Speaking with the many of the other graduating MSc students, the general feeling on MSc Graduation Day was one of great accomplishment, and this feeling was reinforced by the many proud parents who had come to Delft from the far corners of the world to share in this special day with their sons and daughters.

MSc Graduation Day began with small ceremonies at the various faculties. At the Industrial Design Engineering faculty, we enjoyed a lunch with Professor Cees de Bont, the dean of the faculty. De Bont was extremely positive about our achievements and asked us to share with him our individual experiences during our two years of study. Many foreign students said the change in the daily agenda of activities associated with studying here was particularly challenging. The pace, the style, and definitely the processes were completely different from what many of us had experienced previously in our home countries.

The students did however complain to De Bont about the poor level of English proficiency among some TU Delft teachers. De Bont assured us that an action plan is now in place and that in future the teaching staff will be tested. Those who do not pass the test must take a mandatory English course. This was a very positive note for foreign students to hear, since we must pass the TOEFL test before being admitted to TU Delft, so therefore expect the same level of English proficiency among our teachers.
Diversity

After lunch at the faculties, all the MSc graduates were summoned to the Aula for our group photo sessions, where we met up with our fellow international students, our family members and of course TU Delft’s Rector Magnificus Professor Jacob Fokkema, with his entourage of faculty deans, all dressed lavishly in their ceremonial attire to honor the occasion.

Following the photo session, Fokkema delivered his inauguration speech in the Aula’s main auditorium. Fokkema began by declaring his deep admiration for the dedication shown by the 319 MSc students who came from 54 different countries to study at TU Delft. He also thanked the family members who had come to offer their support, as well specially thanking the ambassadors from China, India, Mexico and Malaysia who joined the ceremony to congratulate the students from their respective countries.

In his speech, Fokkema was full of praise for the large number of foreign students who graduated Cum Laude this year. Those MSc students who graduated with honors joined Fokkema on stage for special congratulations. Throughout his speech, Fokkema stressed the importance of cultivating our TU Delft pool of knowledge, which derives from the contacts and relations that bind us with other countries. The world is so much bigger than Delft, he said, and our role as graduates is to serve as ambassadors of the TU Delft community throughout the world.

Fokkema gave many examples of the achievements of TU Delft students over the past years. The university’s students had done so well last year in the Nuon-sponsored solar-powered boat competition that they were not invited to participate again in this year’s competition. Fokkema also praised other projects, like Delfly, the remotely operated Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) that imitates the flight of insects, and Wasub II, the human-powered submarine designed to break the world speed record of 7.2 knots (13.4 km/h). All these achievements have helped put TU Delft on the world map of premier engineering universities.

These winning projects demonstrated the importance of having teams comprised of diverse nationalities, as it is this diversity that leads to scientific innovations and breakthroughs. As a result, TU Delft has raised its international profile and has seen its numbers of international students climb year after year.

Fokkema also stressed the importance of the responsibilities that come with science. Scientists ought to look beyond their own organizations’ profit goals, he said, and assess the impact that our actions have on other disciplines, specifically relating to a greener future.

Following Fokkema speech, a series of TU Delft promotional videos made by graduating MSc students was shown. In the videos, the international students shared their experiences of the university and cultural life in the Netherlands. The videos described the positive aspects of the various TU Delft programs, but also commented on some less appealing aspects, like the weather in the Netherlands. Merely adjusting to the climate, bureaucracy and the cuisine offered in Holland is the equivalent of a 9 ECTS course.

The videos moreover covered a range of subjects that will be helpful to new TU Delft foreign students. The underlying message in many of the videos was that TU Delft is a demanding university, but that it’s up to the individual to make it as easy or as hard as they want to. Alejandro Del Castillo, an MSc graduate from the Industrial Design Faculty, ended his video with a quote that seemed to capture the feeling of many of his fellow graduates: “Considering TU Delft is my university, I know my future is safe!”

The graduation ceremony is held exclusively for foreign MSc students who have ventured to Delft to complete their two-year MSc degree. (Photo: Hans Stakelbeek/FMAX)

Many of the graduates’ family members came to Delft from across the globe to celebrate with their sons and daughters. The ambassadors of China, India, Mexico and Malaysia were also on hand to congratulate the students from their respective countries. 

Last Thursday’s MSc Graduation Day was for me a day to feel proud of being part of TU Delft. This graduation ceremony is held exclusively for foreign MSc students who have ventured to Delft to complete their two-year MSc degree. It just so happened that this year I too was one of these graduating students.



I remember waking up last Thursday morning and feeling that this was the day I had been waiting for since I first set foot on campus two years ago, not knowing what new experiences were in store for me. Speaking with the many of the other graduating MSc students, the general feeling on MSc Graduation Day was one of great accomplishment, and this feeling was reinforced by the many proud parents who had come to Delft from the far corners of the world to share in this special day with their sons and daughters.



MSc Graduation Day began with small ceremonies at the various faculties. At the Industrial Design Engineering faculty, we enjoyed a lunch with Professor Cees de Bont, the dean of the faculty. De Bont was extremely positive about our achievements and asked us to share with him our individual experiences during our two years of study. Many foreign students said the change in the daily agenda of activities associated with studying here was particularly challenging. The pace, the style, and definitely the processes were completely different from what many of us had experienced previously in our home countries.



The students did however complain to De Bont about the poor level of English proficiency among some TU Delft teachers. De Bont assured us that an action plan is now in place and that in future the teaching staff will be tested. Those who do not pass the test must take a mandatory English course. This was a very positive note for foreign students to hear, since we must pass the TOEFL test before being admitted to TU Delft, so therefore expect the same level of English proficiency among our teachers.

Diversity



After lunch at the faculties, all the MSc graduates were summoned to the Aula for our group photo sessions, where we met up with our fellow international students, our family members and of course TU Delft’s Rector Magnificus Professor Jacob Fokkema, with his entourage of faculty deans, all dressed lavishly in their ceremonial attire to honor the occasion.



Following the photo session, Fokkema delivered his inauguration speech in the Aula’s main auditorium. Fokkema began by declaring his deep admiration for the dedication shown by the 319 MSc students who came from 54 different countries to study at TU Delft. He also thanked the family members who had come to offer their support, as well specially thanking the ambassadors from China, India, Mexico and Malaysia who joined the ceremony to congratulate the students from their respective countries.



In his speech, Fokkema was full of praise for the large number of foreign students who graduated Cum Laude this year. Those MSc students who graduated with honors joined Fokkema on stage for special congratulations. Throughout his speech, Fokkema stressed the importance of cultivating our TU Delft pool of knowledge, which derives from the contacts and relations that bind us with other countries. The world is so much bigger than Delft, he said, and our role as graduates is to serve as ambassadors of the TU Delft community throughout the world.



Fokkema gave many examples of the achievements of TU Delft students over the past years. The university’s students had done so well last year in the Nuon-sponsored solar-powered boat competition that they were not invited to participate again in this year’s competition. Fokkema also praised other projects, like Delfly, the remotely operated Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) that imitates the flight of insects, and Wasub II, the human-powered submarine designed to break the world speed record of 7.2 knots (13.4 km/h). All these achievements have helped put TU Delft on the world map of premier engineering universities.



These winning projects demonstrated the importance of having teams comprised of diverse nationalities, as it is this diversity that leads to scientific innovations and breakthroughs. As a result, TU Delft has raised its international profile and has seen its numbers of international students climb year after year.



Fokkema also stressed the importance of the responsibilities that come with science. Scientists ought to look beyond their own organizations’ profit goals, he said, and assess the impact that our actions have on other disciplines, specifically relating to a greener future.



Following Fokkema speech, a series of TU Delft promotional videos made by graduating MSc students was shown. In the videos, the international students shared their experiences of the university and cultural life in the Netherlands. The videos described the positive aspects of the various TU Delft programs, but also commented on some less appealing aspects, like the weather in the Netherlands. Merely adjusting to the climate, bureaucracy and the cuisine offered in Holland is the equivalent of a 9 ECTS course.



The videos moreover covered a range of subjects that will be helpful to new TU Delft foreign students. The underlying message in many of the videos was that TU Delft is a demanding university, but that it’s up to the individual to make it as easy or as hard as they want to. Alejandro Del Castillo, an MSc graduate from the Industrial Design Faculty, ended his video with a quote that seemed to capture the feeling of many of his fellow graduates: “Considering TU Delft is my university, I know my future is safe!”



The graduation ceremony is held exclusively for foreign MSc students who have ventured to Delft to complete their two-year MSc degree. (Photo: Hans Stakelbeek/FMAX)