I really hope to contribute to IT in Mozambique

In Mozambique, people are never on time,” Chehnaz Calumia laments. “When I just returned home from Delft, I was disappointed every time I had an appointment, because people are usually late here. And they always have a better excuse for being late!” Calumia completed her international MSc course in Technical Informatics in 2001 and then returned to Mozambique. “I learned a lot in Holland, not only technical and scientific knowledge, but also cultural and social knowledge, which I can hardly estimate the value of. However, it’s difficult to say where and how I apply this global knowledge, because it’s everywhere. Of course there are a lot of things from Mozambican culture that I use without realizing it. Both cultures are mixed up now in my personality.”

Today, in Mozambique, Calumnia has two jobs: She’s the Informatics coordinator at a private university and she works for an IT company, providing services and training to other companies, as well as developing IT strategies. “My working days are always different, and that’s what I love about them,” Calumnia says. “I don’t have a set routine.” Calumnia’s university job involves coordinating the informatics department: “I manage the resources relating to informatics, meaning people, budgets, systems, computers, printers and all other equipment related to my department, and, where required, to the other departments as well.”

Calumnia uses much of the knowledge she gained in Delft in her current jobs, and she believes she has an advantage over her colleagues because of her TU education. “Mozambique is an underdeveloped country and there’s a lack of resources in many areas. Only recently has an MSc program in Information Technology started in Mozambique, so there’s a lot to be learned here. Somehow, I really hope to contribute to the development of IT in my country, and by doing so, contribute to the overall development of Mozambique.”

With two jobs in information technology, Chehnaz Calumia hopes to make a significant contribution to IT in her country.

“I miss Dutch punctuality. In Mozambique, people are never on time,” Chehnaz Calumia laments. “When I just returned home from Delft, I was disappointed every time I had an appointment, because people are usually late here. And they always have a better excuse for being late!” Calumia completed her international MSc course in Technical Informatics in 2001 and then returned to Mozambique. “I learned a lot in Holland, not only technical and scientific knowledge, but also cultural and social knowledge, which I can hardly estimate the value of. However, it’s difficult to say where and how I apply this global knowledge, because it’s everywhere. Of course there are a lot of things from Mozambican culture that I use without realizing it. Both cultures are mixed up now in my personality.”

Today, in Mozambique, Calumnia has two jobs: She’s the Informatics coordinator at a private university and she works for an IT company, providing services and training to other companies, as well as developing IT strategies. “My working days are always different, and that’s what I love about them,” Calumnia says. “I don’t have a set routine.” Calumnia’s university job involves coordinating the informatics department: “I manage the resources relating to informatics, meaning people, budgets, systems, computers, printers and all other equipment related to my department, and, where required, to the other departments as well.”

Calumnia uses much of the knowledge she gained in Delft in her current jobs, and she believes she has an advantage over her colleagues because of her TU education. “Mozambique is an underdeveloped country and there’s a lack of resources in many areas. Only recently has an MSc program in Information Technology started in Mozambique, so there’s a lot to be learned here. Somehow, I really hope to contribute to the development of IT in my country, and by doing so, contribute to the overall development of Mozambique.”