After two years of hard work far from home, the day that many international students were eagerly awaiting finally arrived. The MSc graduation on August 16 was the time for graduates to celebrate their accomplishments with their families and friends.
During his commencement address, TU Delft’s Rector Magnificus Jacob Fokkema urged the graduates to help contribute to sustainable development.
Half an hour before the start of the MSc ceremony the recent graduates and their family members are pouring into the foyer of the Aula. In a somewhat clumsy manner, but with sincere pride, the graduates are putting on and taking off their mortarboards, the typical black graduation hat. Many are congratulating each other and taking pictures with family and friends, while others are playing with and showing off with a sense of shared honour the miniature flags of their native country that are placed on tables around the foyer. All of the graduates are eagerly anticipating the start of the ceremony.
Having made the long journey from Iran, Siamak Vaezpour’s parents are here to share this special moment with their son. “We wanted to be a part of this ceremony, because we want to experience it ourselves and to share this joyful moment with Siamak,” says his father Morteza Vaezpour. Siamak points out that it’s quite hard for him to describe his feelings in words: “I’d just say that I’m very happy and glad that I did it!”
When a couple of people start entering the auditorium, everybody assumes that the ceremony is about to commence and follow them in. In the auditorium, typical Dutch market type music fills the air, while the graduates are chatting with each other and their friends about their achievements and the next step in their lives.
Although the auditorium is quite full, the many empty chairs reflect that this graduation ceremony is still a non-Dutch affair. The march of a number of students from behind the stage indicates that these are the cum laude students, the brightest among the international students.
The hammering sound of heavy metal pounding wood signals the knocking with the mace by the mace-bearer and the start of the ceremony.
Directly behind the mace-bearer follows the TU’s Rector Magnificus Jacob Fokkema, and various ambassadors and professors in traditional academic robes. All present rise and stand as the professors take their seats and Fokkema walks up the stage: a traditional act rarely seen in an otherwise highly progressive and liberal society that is so characteristic of Dutch culture.
“Surrounded by people from so many countries and cultures, I get the feeling that Delft University of Technology really is at the very centre of the world. At times like this I consider myself not only as the Rector Magnificus of a fine institution but a true world citizen,” is how Fokkema begins his speech.
Cum laude
The internationality of the occasion is reflected by the impressive number of nationals from 54 countries graduating this year and the presence of a large number of ambassadors, which includes the ambassadors of Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Portugal, El Salvador, China, Romania and Mexico. Fokkema congratulates the international students on their impressive academic results, stating that the number of international cum laude students is “invariably higher” than the home-grown cum laude students. This year there were 24 international students graduating cum laude.
Jasna Stefanovska from Croatia graduated almost two months ago, but only found out today the she’d graduated cum laude. “Graduating cum laude is of course a great honour for me and it’s nice to be able to celebrate this with my family today,” she adds.
In addition to applauding the efforts and commitment of the international students, Fokkema also had a message for the new grads: in their careers they should try to contribute to a truly sustainable society. “I hope you not only acquired the necessary professional knowledge but also the ability to consider and apply all the many ‘varias’ of sustainable technology,” Fokkema said.
The growling engines of an airplane taking off highlights the start of an amusing video intermezzo made by international students about their arrival to the Netherlands and their experiences while studying in Delft. A roar of laughter fills the auditorium when one of the students exclaims that, unbelievable but true, she in fact likes Dutch food! And a graduate from India expresses – probably the deeply sensed but hidden frustration of many international male students – that the often beautiful Dutch girls are just too tall for him.
Being well aware of the fact many graduates are from less developed countries, Fokkema remarked in his speech that while he understands the frustration of these countries with respect to the richer countries telling them to restrain the use of natural resources while they themselves have “made liberal use of the world’s oil and other resources in the past. Nevertheless I remain convinced that sustainable development has to go hand in hand in improving the situation of the poor.”
To the ones that might think that a single individual might not be able to solve major world problems like climate change, Fokkema quoted Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Fokkema pointed out that this means that somebody has to take the first step and told the graduates: “And today you’re taking a step by acquiring your Master’s degree.”
Half an hour before the start of the MSc ceremony the recent graduates and their family members are pouring into the foyer of the Aula. In a somewhat clumsy manner, but with sincere pride, the graduates are putting on and taking off their mortarboards, the typical black graduation hat. Many are congratulating each other and taking pictures with family and friends, while others are playing with and showing off with a sense of shared honour the miniature flags of their native country that are placed on tables around the foyer. All of the graduates are eagerly anticipating the start of the ceremony.
Having made the long journey from Iran, Siamak Vaezpour’s parents are here to share this special moment with their son. “We wanted to be a part of this ceremony, because we want to experience it ourselves and to share this joyful moment with Siamak,” says his father Morteza Vaezpour. Siamak points out that it’s quite hard for him to describe his feelings in words: “I’d just say that I’m very happy and glad that I did it!”
When a couple of people start entering the auditorium, everybody assumes that the ceremony is about to commence and follow them in. In the auditorium, typical Dutch market type music fills the air, while the graduates are chatting with each other and their friends about their achievements and the next step in their lives.
Although the auditorium is quite full, the many empty chairs reflect that this graduation ceremony is still a non-Dutch affair. The march of a number of students from behind the stage indicates that these are the cum laude students, the brightest among the international students.
The hammering sound of heavy metal pounding wood signals the knocking with the mace by the mace-bearer and the start of the ceremony.
Directly behind the mace-bearer follows the TU’s Rector Magnificus Jacob Fokkema, and various ambassadors and professors in traditional academic robes. All present rise and stand as the professors take their seats and Fokkema walks up the stage: a traditional act rarely seen in an otherwise highly progressive and liberal society that is so characteristic of Dutch culture.
“Surrounded by people from so many countries and cultures, I get the feeling that Delft University of Technology really is at the very centre of the world. At times like this I consider myself not only as the Rector Magnificus of a fine institution but a true world citizen,” is how Fokkema begins his speech.
Cum laude
The internationality of the occasion is reflected by the impressive number of nationals from 54 countries graduating this year and the presence of a large number of ambassadors, which includes the ambassadors of Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Portugal, El Salvador, China, Romania and Mexico. Fokkema congratulates the international students on their impressive academic results, stating that the number of international cum laude students is “invariably higher” than the home-grown cum laude students. This year there were 24 international students graduating cum laude.
Jasna Stefanovska from Croatia graduated almost two months ago, but only found out today the she’d graduated cum laude. “Graduating cum laude is of course a great honour for me and it’s nice to be able to celebrate this with my family today,” she adds.
In addition to applauding the efforts and commitment of the international students, Fokkema also had a message for the new grads: in their careers they should try to contribute to a truly sustainable society. “I hope you not only acquired the necessary professional knowledge but also the ability to consider and apply all the many ‘varias’ of sustainable technology,” Fokkema said.
The growling engines of an airplane taking off highlights the start of an amusing video intermezzo made by international students about their arrival to the Netherlands and their experiences while studying in Delft. A roar of laughter fills the auditorium when one of the students exclaims that, unbelievable but true, she in fact likes Dutch food! And a graduate from India expresses – probably the deeply sensed but hidden frustration of many international male students – that the often beautiful Dutch girls are just too tall for him.
Being well aware of the fact many graduates are from less developed countries, Fokkema remarked in his speech that while he understands the frustration of these countries with respect to the richer countries telling them to restrain the use of natural resources while they themselves have “made liberal use of the world’s oil and other resources in the past. Nevertheless I remain convinced that sustainable development has to go hand in hand in improving the situation of the poor.”
To the ones that might think that a single individual might not be able to solve major world problems like climate change, Fokkema quoted Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Fokkema pointed out that this means that somebody has to take the first step and told the graduates: “And today you’re taking a step by acquiring your Master’s degree.”
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