ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
CLASS OF 2020 Master’s of Spatial Engineering
08 E ABOUT THE PROGRAMM SPATIAL ENGINEERING
10 INTERNATIONAL MODULE
14 SUCCESS WISHES
18 GRADUATES 2020
INTRODUCTION
CONGRATULATIONS,
TO YOU
NETHERLANDS
YOU ARE GRADUATING AS A FIRST MASTER IN SPATIAL ENGINEERING AT
1,631 STUDENTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE. WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT YOU ALL DARED TO BE PART OF THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MASTER’S PROGRAMME. A special group of 17 students
fellow graduating students.
from 12 nationalities that put a
You have presented yourself
conscious effort in learning from
with “The big business card” for
each other. With your openness
example, which were developed
to our (endless) evaluations,
for use during the international
discussions and constructive
module, where we visited several
criticism, you helped
European organisations that have
FOUNDING YEAR
1950
shape this new
hands on experience dealing
master. As a token
with wicked problems.
SPAIN 123 STUDENTS
of our appreciation, we present this
We hope you enjoy reading this
magazine in which
magazine and wish you success
you can find some
in all your future endeavors. GHANA
of the achievements ALUMNI
of yourself and your
591 STUDENTS
With the very best wishes,
23,700
STUDENTS
507
DRS. TINY LUITEN
PROF. DR. VICTOR JETTEN
NATIONALITIES
90
ITC GRADUATION EDITION 2020 EDITORIAL TEAM Hanne Wassink (gbvdm.nl), Tiny Luiten en Janneke Kalf (utwente.nl)
PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM Archive the UT, Roy Ensing
CONCEPT AND DESIGN Geen Blad voor de Mond B.V.
ADDRESS University of Twente Faculty ITC P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands T. +31 (0)53 489 54 89 study@utwente.nl
DISCLAIMER This brochure is a publication of the University of Twente’s, Faculty ITC and Marketing & Communication department. We reserve the right to the contents of this brochure.
ITC
TRY
ALUMNI IN YOUR COUN
IN NUMBERS BULGARIA 8 STUDENTS
ITALY CHINA
218 STUDENTS
1,452 STUDENTS
PAKISTAN 396 STUDENTS
VIETNAM 404 STUDENTS
ZIMBABWE 183 STUDENTS
ITC is the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. The faculty is famous for its international reputation, hosting students from all over the world. Spatial Engineering is the new developed educational programme within ITC, of which the first students are now graduating. This magazine is dedicated to them, the first and therefore special graduates of Spatial Engineering. Look at the map above to see where they originally come from, with the numbers of all ITC alumni of their country. ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
3
THE GRADUATES
BUSINESS
CARDS
ANNE MOSSINK
Bachelor:
DURING THE INTERNATIONAL MODULE, THE GRADUATES
Civil Engineering
HAVE DEVELOPED THE SO CALLED “BIG BUSINESS CARD”.
Country: The Netherlands
CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL IDENTITIES,
Thesis topic:
AND HOW THEY POSITION THEMSELVES IN THE
Strategic environmental.
WORKFIELD OF SPATIAL ENGINEERING.
Assessment planning for rapid urbanization in Rwanda. Professional interests: Water management, environmental protection, land use change mapping.
4
NAOMI
THOM
KAS
BERKHOUT
VAN HARTEN
VAN 'T LOO
Bachelor:
Bachelor: Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor:
Earth Science
Country: The Netherlands
Traffic Engineering
Country:
Thesis topic:
Country:
The Netherlands
Identification and discussion of
The Netherlands
Thesis topic:
the characteristics of social networks
Thesis topic:
Determining emissions from
of businesses in the creative
Vegetation indices for
NO2 acquired from Sentinel-5P's
sector in Kampongs.
evaluating recovery of vegetation
TROPOMI.
Professional interests:
on landslide scarred tropical
Professional interests:
Sustainable development and
rainforest.
Air quality,
subjects where technology
Professional interests:
environmental issues.
meets society.
Road safety, water security.
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
MASSIMO
FERNANDO
CATTINO
FERNANDEZ
Bachelor:
Bachelor:
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Country: Italy
Country:
Thesis topic:
Spain
Social vulnerability assessments
Thesis topic:
for social justice and equity in
Risk assessment of
climate adaptation plans.
bark beetle outbreak in
Professional interests:
The Schwarzwald National Park.
Social justice, urban inequality, social
Professional interests:
vulnerability, disaster risk reduction,
Ecosystem, services mapping,
climate change adaptation.
forest carbon monitoring.
IVAN IVANOV
Bachelor: Geography Country: Bulgaria Thesis topic: Deep learning for automated building footprint extraction from remotely sensed data. Professional interests: Geography, programming. Working experience: Full-stack Software Engineer (6 years). ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
5
THE GRADUATES
FESTUS
ZEESHAN
GURIBIE
ARMOH NWEAMAH
UMAR
RAPHAEL
Bachelor:
Bachelor:
Bachelor:
Geomatics
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Science
Country:
Country: Pakistan
Country:
Ghana
Thesis topic: Modelling grassland
Ghana
Thesis topic:
traits using RGB and multispectral
Thesis topic:
Detection of pipeline
images acquired from UAV.
Flood mapping of farmlands along
deformation using time-series
Professional interests: Data driven,
the White Volta river in the
insar techniques.
solutions to complex problems.
northern part of Ghana.
Professional interest:
Working experience: Cherat cement
Professional interests:
INSAR technology.
company (6 months), Lab Engineer
Environmental sciences.
control system lab (1 year).
6
RAPHAEL
HELEN
MUHAMMAD
EDEM FIAVE
NGONIDZASHE SERERE
SALEEM
Bachelor:
Bachelor:
Bachelor:
Human Settlement Planning
Surveying and Geomatics
Civil Engineering
Country: Ghana
Country:
Country: Pakistan
Thesis topic:
Zimbabwe
Thesis topic:
Spatial decision support system
Thesis topic:
Prioritizing mapping areas in
for industrial park planning.
Airborne hyperspectral
openstreetmap using quality metrics
Case study:
data for estimation and
for improving disaster preparedness.
Southern Province, Rwanda.
mapping of forest leaf
Working experience:
Professional interests:
area index.
Freelance ethical auditor at
Spatial planning,
QIMA for Netherlands
transport planning.
& Western Europe.
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
THUY HUYNH MAI
KEKE
NGUYEN
DUAN
Bachelor: Urban Design
Bachelor: Geomatics
Country: Vietnam
Country:
Thesis topic: Studying integration and
China
fragmentation in the urban expansion
Thesis topic:
area. The case study in Leidsche
Saffron field classification
Rijn, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
and flowering phenology
Professional interests: Urbanism,
detection using Sentinel-2
sustainable development.
Time Series in
Working experience: Project
Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Iran.
Architect (full time) at RSP Architects
Professional interests:
planner and engineers (Vietnam)
Remote sensing,
from 2015 to 2018 & student assistant
Geoinformatics,
at ITC – University of Twente.
natural resource.
YUNYA
RUI
GAO
XIE
Bachelor: Physical Geography
Bachelor: Geomatics
Country:
Country:
China
China
Thesis topic:
Thesis topic:
Assessing the spatial transferability
Airborne hyperspectral
of fully convolutional networks
data for estimation and
for slum mapping.
mapping of forest
DIGITAL
HUB Would you like to learn
Professional interests:
leaf area index.
more and connect with
Remote sensing,
Professional interests:
our graduates? For more
machine learning,
Natural resources, hyperspectral
deep learning, urban.
remote sensing, time series.
information please visit https://itc-se-2018.github.io/map/ ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
7
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
A WHOLE NEW ENGINEER WHAT IS SPATIAL ENGINEERING, AND WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR MASTER PROGRAMME SO SPECIAL? VICTOR JETTEN AND TINY LUITEN FROM PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT EXPLAIN THEIR VIEW ON THE WORKFIELD. THEY TALK OPENLY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING THIS MASTER, AND THEIR VISION ON THE FUTURE OF SPATIAL ENGINEERING. HISTORY
The University of Twente wants to
and personal skills when they
The Programme was conceived
make science useful for society
start with the Programme.
by Victor Jetten, since 2006,
and stimulates where it can new
This in addition to a very high
full professor in Natural Hazards
forms of teaching and learning.
diversity in nationalities age
and Disaster Risk Management
This means you have to learn to
and work experience makes for
at ITC. Throughout his career,
look beyond your own boundaries
a very complex, even wicked,
he has been working on natural
and be truly multidisciplinary.
educational concept. It takes
hazards and land degradation,
Not just knowing that other
courage and flexibility to teach
and is fascinated by creating
disciplines exist, but learning
in a master with a new vision
models that simulate these
their vocabulary, value systems
on education. They adapted
processes. He strongly believes
and methods. Spatial Engineering
constantly to make the idea work,
that these processes should
is a master’s Programme that
keep on challenging the students,
not be studied and modelled as
is based on this idea, and has
iron out the wrinkles (but not too
separate disciplines but in a much
been further developed into a
much). Discussing as a team of
more holistic way, and always in
programme aiming at the growth
tutors and mentors what works
consultation with stakeholders.
of international demand. Its aim
and what doesn’t work.
is to create engineers that have a helicopter view, are curious,
FUTURE
ambitious and can help solve
The first group is about to
problems anywhere in the world.
graduate, onwards to a career in spatial engineering, finding
TEACHERS
out if the experience in working
This magazine is also a tribute
on projects in an international,
to the teachers in Spatial
multicultural and interdisciplinary
Engineering. The Programme
team, using spatio-temporal
allows for bachelor’s with a
analysis and the formulation of
great variety of degrees to
models and knowing the socio-
enter. Therefore, each individual
economic environmental drivers
student has their own level
of system Earth, will land them a
of knowledge, technical
job. This is what the future holds
while we write this document,
co-create and further
but the signs are good. From the
develop the Programme
internship host organisations, we
for future Spatial
received very good references
Engineering students.
As David Goldberg coined it, as Professor
for this group of students.
Our aim for the future is
Emeritus Entrepreneurial Engineering,
Already during the international
to stay in close contact
University of Illinois (USA), and co-author of
module, halfway through the
with the work field and
'A Whole New Engineer’: “It is a daring
Programme, host organisations
keep a flexible attitude. Not
master’s programme that promises to deliver
stated how impressed they were
only to accommodate a
the ITC-style reflective engineering practitioner
with the type of questions and
great diversity of students
of the future who can integrate technical
discussions they had. Therefore,
entering the Programme,
engineering, spatial information systems,
we are confident that this will
but also delivering graduates
and planning and governance knowledge
work out well and we hope that
that can help address new
and know-how in the real-world of wickedly
as alumni this group will help
emerging wicked problems.
complex problems we increasingly face.”
DAVID GOLDBERG
ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
9
EUROPE TRIP
INTERNATIONAL
MODULE AS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL MODULE THE STUDENTS WENT ON A TWO-WEEK TRIP THROUGHOUT EUROPE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE WORK FIELD OF THE SPATIAL ENGINEER. LET’S LOOK BACK ON SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS INSIGHTFUL JOURNEY.
STUTTGARD DISTRIBUTION OF GIFTS
PREPARATION IS KEY
10
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
EURAC BOLZANO
STUTTGARD
UN
BONN On a raining early Monday morning we all met at the ITC building. After repeated checks for presence and passports, we loaded the bus with our travel gear and, very important, goodies as presents for the people receiving our group. There were even two home baked cakes to go around. We visited the UN in Bonn as a first stop.
WEEKEND MILANO
EUROPEAN LABORATORY FOR STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT IRC, ISPRA
WEEKEND MILANO
MAKERSPACE JRC
WEEKEND MILANO
ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
11
XXXXXXXX EUROPE TRIP
NO WORD NEEDED
WEEKEND MILANO WEEKEND MILANO
LR
12
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
3LAND PONT PALMRAIN
EN ROUTE IN AUSTRIA
OOSTVAARDERS PLASSEN
EUROSTAT LUXEMBOURG
MARKERWADDEN
EN ROUTE IN AUSTRIA
A BIG
THANK YOU With a big thank you to all visited organisations: • Alsace Chambre d’Agriculture • Eurac Research • Eurostat • Fichtner • JRC • NEO • Staatsbosbeheer (Oostvaardersplassen project) • Province of Flevoland (Markerwadden project) • Trinationaler Eurodistrict Basel (TEB) • UNOOSA & UNDRR ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
13
INTERNSHIP ORGANISATIONS
A GOOD LUCK WISH SOME OF THE INTERNSHIP ORGANISATIONS AND SUPERVISORS WANTED TO GIVE THE GRADUATES A PERSONAL MESSAGE AS A CONGRATULATION. READ ABOUT THEIR COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. 14
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
FROM NERCITA TO KEKE DUAN
to work together, and we had
“On the whole, she has done
a nice time in the field. Many
a good job in achieving the
times Raphael mentioned how
extraction of phenology and
much he enjoyed our fieldwork.
growth potential assessment
To quote his words ‘I love it as
using remote sensing time
I can learn by practical example
series data. She has a clear
with action about heat stress
research idea and a solid
and drought monitoring and learn
foundation. She is an excellent
from my mistakes’.”
“I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A TRACTOR”
postgraduate student, and I look forward to further cooperation opportunities.” Guijun Yang FROM 52IMPACT TO NAOMI BERKHOUT “Naomi, you were the very first Spatial Engineering intern at 52impact - and I think it was a perfect match! With your broad FROM AGRIWATCH TO
interest and skills, we quickly
RAPHAEL AR-KUM GURIBIE
settled on an interesting topic,
“It is with much pleasure that
‘Water risk and climate change:
I take this opportunity to write
an eye on the future’. You have
a personal reference for you.
become famous at 52impact
A major part of his internship
for your very artsy spaghetti
was learning more about the
diagrams, combining all those
before your start! The Corona
field, drone data acquisition and
data sources with their impact
period certainly changed our ideas
processing that could not be
and possible measures. Those
of teamwork, and your home
done due to COVID-19 outbreak.
diagrams will be looked at the
office in Utrecht has no secrets
I have been gradually trying to
coming years, reflecting all the
anymore at 52impact. I hope you
do some field visits with him,
opportunities we see. The future
will come visit us some time in
especially, to get to know Raphael
of Ethiopia has no mysteries
the future again, let's keep our
better and show him one of our
anymore for you, knowing all
eyes on this future!”
experimental fields farm in the
climate projections by heart.
neighbourhood of Enschede
I really like the breadth of your
(Rekken) for his internship
work, all the way from the
project. At one of our field visits
diagrams to applied insights at
a farmer asked Raphael what
a provincial level.
he liked to do after finishing the
FROM DLR TO XIE RUI “Our colleagues at ITC had
course, he said ‘I would love to
It would have been great if we
already recommended you as a
learn how to drive a tractor’. It
could have worked with the
very talented young man, whom
seemed he was more focused on
whole team in our Van Nelle
we naturally wanted to have as
learning how to ride a tractor than
Factory office in Rotterdam.
an intern at DLR's Land Surface
a drone. It was so interesting
Fortunately, you did visit already
Dynamics department. ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
15
INTERNSHIP ORGANISATIONS
The advance praise was well
a product that KAW can really
close to you, even my kids liked
justified. Thank you very much
continue with. She has thought
you via the webcam. By taking
for your dedication and the work
carefully about the applicability
your internship in Salzburg, you
you have done for us! It is a great
and has been able to implement
showed that the COVID19 does
pity that we were not allowed to
feedback from KAW. She has
limit you in getting things done
get to know each other in person
achieved a lot in a short period of
your way. The MSc topic of worst
at DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen, but
time with many inconveniences
flood scenario for Dominica was
only online. Who knows, maybe
due to Corona. We appreciate
not an easy road for you, but a
your future path will lead you to
that very much.”
road with holes such as a model
us? All the best for you and your
that did not work appropriate and
professional future.”
having to learn R programming to structure the big data GPM satellite throw at you. You kept focus and showed flexibility, and therefore you managed to keep FROM DR. JANNEKE ETTEMA
the 4WD car on the road that you
MATHIEU KASTELIJN TO MAI
TO HELEN SERERE
choose. My congratulations to
“Despite Corona, Mai has
“It was my pleasure to be your
you and good luck in the future
joined the project team in a very
mentor as well as your MSc
with the position you got at the
ambitious and enthusiastic way.
supervisor. We had many good,
University of Salzburg.”
That is quite special. In addition,
constructive discussions, and
she is an incredibly hard worker
a lot of fun. I get to know you
FROM DR. ROSHANAK DARVISH
and a social colleague. She has
as a person that looks at the
TO RUI XIE
understood the content of the
bright side of life. You are really
“Rui, you have performed a nice
assignment and has delivered
taking care of all people that are
job, and I enjoyed working with
“I GET TO KNOW YOU AS A PERSON THAT LOOKS AT THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE”
16
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
you during the past year. With your motivation and dedication, you certainly become a good scientist in the future, and I wish you all the best. Hope to collaborate soon again within your PhD study.” FROM DR. ROSHANAK DARVISH TO KEKE DUAN “Keke, you are a clever and pleasant girl. I was a bit worried when we planned for your fieldwork in Iran, but you managed it very well. I appreciate this openness and courage to perform excellent fieldwork in Iran alone! You also did much more than what we expected during your MSc thesis, well done! Hope to have you back as a PhD student in the future.”
N
“WITH YOUR MOTIVATIO AND DEDICATION, YOU
CERTAINLY BECOME A GOOD SCIENTIST IN THE FUTURE”
GRADUATES 2020
HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY? 18
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
“When I started this study, I was
of working. I also did not expect
ready for a new experience; An
that we could learn so much from
experience that provides a lot of
each other, or could stimulate
freedom to explore different work
each other to discover new
fields and fields of interest. So
territories of knowledge. I am
I took on the challenge to advance
grateful for that!
in urban planning, statistics, philosophy, project management,
I aimed to study with curiosity,
water management, remote
an open-minded attitude and
sensing, shoat herding,
joy. Besides, I saw the study as
Hunnebed hunting and GIS.
a place to reflect on myself and
ANNE MOSSINK
I had a lot of fun!, because I got
to become more self-aware,
“Many cool
the space to study what I found
allowing me to become the best
relevant and interesting.
version of myself. Reflecting,
options ahead”
I found out the professional I would like to express my
paths that would suit me: project
gratitude to my classmates:
manager, natural resource
before starting this study, I did
specialist, world traveller or
not expect to have so many
opening my own coffee corner.
in-depth discussions about
Anyhow, many cool options
culture, politics or different ways
ahead!”
“My expectations when I started
helps me to reflect and be more
this master actually changed
specific on my goals. Also, advice
significantly, and in an amazing
from teachers and staff during
way. I first started just to learn
the programme inspired me and
new things but it ended up that
helps me to have more realistic
I started to pursue the career that
action plans. Additionally, I also
I always dreamed about. It’s all
enjoy working with students from
thanks to the knowledge and the
different cultural and professional
inspiration from the programme.
backgrounds. I have learned to
I’m not sure yet how it might turn
be more adaptive with different
out but I definitely appreciate
working styles. It helps me to be
MAI NGUYEN
walking on this path. During the
more open-minded with different
“My expectations changed in
programme, I enjoyed doing
opinions and also gaining new
the PDP every now and then. It
knowledge from my classmates.”
an amazing way”
ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
19
GRADUATES 2020
“There once was a quote a
value someone based on who
former teacher of mine used
they are - and not on their cultural
to say. I never understood the
behavior. It also made me rethink
meaning behind it until I gave
my own values and norms. For
my own meaning to it recently.
example, I changed from not
Although studying at ITC teached
approving classmates that come
me a thousands of things, I can
late to appointments in the first
summarize the most important
month, to a person that is now
lesson with his quote: 'Normal is
sometimes apologising to my
nonsense, it doesn’t exist'.
Dutch friends that I can’t make
I expected to start my master at
it on time. Yes, different cultures
KAS VAN 'T LOO
a typical Dutch university in one
have a different understanding
“Normal is nonsense,
of the most rural regions of the
of ‘time’. But I think those
country: Twente. I was completely
understandings have one view
unaware of the fact that I would
in common: time is valuable, you
be only one of the four Dutch
can’t buy it and you never know
students on a whole faculty. I was
how much you have. That is why I
overwhelmed from the first day by
hope that we are all able to spend
the diversity of people, cultures,
our time in a meaningful and
values and norms. This made me
joyful way. One thing for sure is
realise that things I thought were
that the last two years at ITC has
normal, are only normal because
been both meaningful and joyful,
I was living in an environment
and there are plenty of good
with people of the same cultural.
memories I will carry with me -
ITC made it possible for me to
thanks to all of you!”
it doesn't exist”
20
“I expected a more rigid way
enabled me to make friends
of learning and I am very happy
among strangers, find peace
that I got something different.
while studying and create my
I expected the personal
own educational or professional
development aspect and the
path, if it wasn’t already there.
Spatial Engineering aspect to
I got more than I bargained for.
be separated, but they weren’t.
I learned a lot about myself,
And I also did not expect a
what I want and what I am able
“I got more than
culture at ITC, but this culture
to do.”
I bargained for”
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
NAOMI BERKHOUT
“When I came to ITC I started
environment to work on a bright
developing my GIS skills from
future. I learned to straighten
scratch, and I recently had a
the complexity of the problems
presentation in Austria (remotely)
and find the solutions even
about my work in the field of GIS.
with increased wickedness.
So my learning curve was steep.
My educational journey increased
After my MSc I became more
my problem-solving skills.
aware of the things that have a
On personal leveI, I have learned
positive impact on society. In the
how to manage my education
future, I want to apply my skills
even with many mental health
for issues that have an impact on
issues such as depression and
future generations. This creates a
anxiety. It was a painful journey
sense of responsibility and care
with many disappointments
for the society I strongly value.
along the way, especially during
I wish to apply my knowledge
the MSc research phase where
in order to benefit humanitarian
the expectations were high and
issues. I am now interested in
time was limited. This has been
applying my skills, knowledge,
a learning experience for me,
“Having an impact on
personal and professional
on how to overcome challenges
the future generation”
experience in a multi-disciplinary
myself.”
MUHAMMAD SALEEM
ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
21
GRADUATES 2020
THANK YOU! Thank you graduates for your honest, in-depth contributions. To the ones who didn't write a personal reflection, we hope you look back on an inspiring educational journey that helped you shape your own vision on the work field.
RUI XIE “Create massive employment opportunities”
22
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
“With the big data stream
of remote sensing & GIS is
intervenes people’s life,
increasing rapidly. Therefore,
traditional technology is facing
I believe the work field for GIS
a big challenge, which also brings
& Remote Sensing will be
opportunities for the work field.
more open and diverse.
During the international trip, it
Combination of GIS technology
was observed that the GIS and
with other fields will of course
remote sensing data has already
create massive employment
be applied in many domains,
opportunities in the future to help
such as agricultural management,
people solve/manage problems
urban planning, citizen science,
from a spatial view more
and industrial, etc. The demanding
effectively.”
IVAN IVANOV “We could help millions around the world for free”
“I was expecting a very
things. Working with people
different environment from
from other cultural, societal and
what I have experienced during
economical backgrounds was
my Bachelor's degree with a
very tough in the beginning, but
high focus on the most recent
as the time passed, I realised I
scientific developments. Luckily,
cannot change that and it is of
I really managed to touch and
my interest to adapt to other's
acknowledge the existence of
way of doing things, as it is not
many new modern techniques
the only 'correct' one. In the end,
involved in spatial analysis and
I will remember it as fun times,
planning. What is more, the
but for sure it was not easy to
multicultural environment of
understand it.
ITC was even more diverse and enriching than expected, I am not
When I decided to do a Master's
sure if there is another institute
abroad I had two things in my
that meets people from so many
mind - change the environment
different places at the same time.
for a while and try to switch to my true destiny - geography. And
Being European, especially
I think I already managed, my
the south-east, prepared me
internship already evolved into
to expect cultural differences,
a permanent job as a software
as they are already observed
engineer writing geospatial soft-
between different parts of our
ware. What is more, its free and
continent. However, I realised
open-source geospatial software,
that we had very minor variations
which brings me additional joy
of the same European or more
that my solutions help millions
recently 'Western' way of doing
around the world for free.”
“I expected to have fun and meet
I participated in the Student
people from all over the world.
Association Board and got to
Besides this, I expected to learn
work with people from all over
about doing interesting projects
the world. Also, we went on an
and how to use technology in
international trip, which was fun
solving real-life problems. Soon
and we got very close as a group
I found that I could learn all this
of students. The journey was
and that it could be much more.
amazing.”
THOM VAN HARTEN “Working with people from all over the world” ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
23
UT MESSAGES
CONGRATULATIONS
YOU’VE MADE IT! LAST BUT NOT LEAST. TEACHERS AND STAFF FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE WISH TO CONGRATULATE THE GRADUATES WITH A MESSAGE. SOME ARE PERSONAL MESSAGES, OTHERS ARE ADDRESSED TO ALL.
FROM LISANNE VERHEIJ TO ALL
FROM RAUL ZURITA-MILLA TO ALL
Dutch students were new to
“Dear first graduates of
“Congratulations on completing
our ‘international’ approach
Spatial Engineering,
your Spatial Engineering MSc
and it was fun to exchange our
You made it, congratulations!
degree. As my townmate Seneca
experiences and make them
During the last two years,
once said “No man was ever
aware of the challenges and
we have asked a lot of you
wise by chance”. Continue your
bureaucracy our international
in terms of evaluations and
path to become even wiser, and
students face while studying
feedback sessions. But this
enjoy the future!”
at ITC. We had to convince
input was really valuable to us,
24
the Dutch students to join the
your feedback and suggestions
FROM MARIE-CHANTAL METZ
introduction week as initially they
helped us in identifying points
TO ALL
thought it was not useful. We
for improvement in this new
“As an ITC student affairs officer
were very pleased when they
Master’s programme. Because of
working more than 18 years with
confirmed to have enjoyed the
this, we believe we could and still
only international students it was
experience.”
can further develop and finetune
a very new experience to work
the programme. Thank you for
with and support Dutch students
FROM OLGA MAVROULI TO ALL
your engagement and I wish you
from the Spatial Engineering
“Congratulations to all of you!
all the best for the future!”
Programme. I discovered they
You shined, each one of you,
have their own culture, way of
with your enthusiasm and your
FROM THOMAS GROEN TO ALL
communication and demands
brilliance. I wish you all the best
“It was learning by doing.
but a delight to work with.
for the journeys to come, to be
Congratulations to all!”
I definitely think that also the
fulfilling and enjoyable!”
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
FROM JACQUELINE MOL
environments on camera. Your
FROM TINY LUITEN TO ALL
“Dear MSE-graduates, it was
teachers became ordinary people
“Dear special Spatial engineering
a great pleasure to support
with cats, babies and bad-hair
graduates; thank you for teaching
you during your studies.
days. For teachers, ‘the class’
me throughout your journey to
I wish you lots of success in
now consisted of individuals that
master spatial engineering. Good
your professional pursuits.
have lives beyond their study.
luck for the future and hope to
Congratulations!”
Where previously your life had
see you somewhere sometime.”
to adapt to your education, now FROM JEROEN VERPLANKE TO ALL
the education also had to adjust
FROM VICTOR JETTEN TO ALL
“Switching to full time online
to your life. This new dimension,
Dear Spatial Engineers, I am
education during the final months
offering a peek into our personal
proud that you have all performed
of your two-year programme,
spaces, replaced just a little bit
so well. It is great to see how a
has added an unexpected
what physical contact used to
master programme is shaped by
dimension to teacher-student
be. You found a way to cope with
both students and staff with so
interaction. Suddenly we saw
an unexpected situation. You
much positive energy. So thanks
each other in our personal
adapted. You succeeded!”
and keep in touch. ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
25
UT MESSAGES
FROM MARIANA BELGIU
and is very efficient when it
Good luck, Yunya! It was a
TO YUNYA GAO
comes to finding innovative
pleasure to work with you.
“I met Yunya in February 2019
solutions to specific research
I am sure you will be a great
when we started discussing
problems. I was impressed to
scientist.”
her MSc thesis research
see that she wanted her research
dedicated to “Assessing the
to have a direct societal impact.
FROM ANTON VRIELING TO KEKE
spatial transferability of Fully
Instead of spending her summer
“I have known Keke as a very
Convolutional Networks (FCNs)
vacation with her friends and
bright and eager student. I still
in slum mapping”. During our
family, she decided to attend
remember the first day that
work together, I realised that
the ‘Global poverty, human rights
she entered my office, still
Yunya is an extremely motivated
and development’ summer
rather fresh from China, on
student who is constantly trying
school organised by the
10 September 2018. I was just
to improve her knowledge on
University of Helsinki, in order
getting into my role as a mentor
remote sensing, deep learning,
to improve her knowledge on
in the new Master’s programme
etc. by attending different
different dimensions of poverty
Spatial Engineering, and Keke
courses or summer schools.
and on the role of international
was one of the 3 students for
She can work independently
institutions to alleviate it.
whom I was mentor. Although
GOOD LUCK All of the graduates have worked alongside different teachers and supervisors throughout their time at ITC. Some of you know each other very well, others have just been familiar faces passing by in the hallways. Nevertheless, here are some good luck messages for you all to take with you into the future. 26
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
she was shy, she quickly
concerned, she would be very
managed to improve and find
welcome to do that at ITC!
her way into this new challenging
In fact, we do hope to write a
programme, taking up active
(or more) scientific papers based
roles in project work. Her
on her work.”
MSc-research included a 2-week
ITHAKA BY C. P. CAVAFY ND KEELEY
TRANSLATED BY EDMU
As you set out for Ithaka hope your
field visit to Iran, where she
FROM LING CHANG
road is a long one, full of adventure,
could work with a local institute.
TO FESTUS ARMOH NWEAMAH
full of discovery. Laistrygonians,
She did a great job in collecting
“I would like to give my wish
Cyclops, angry Poseidon – don’t be
field data (together with the local
to you.Congrats on your Spatial
afraid of them: you’ll never find things
partner). Moreover, she already
Engineering MSc graduation and
like that on your way as long as you
secured a job in China, although
best wishes for your future. It was
keep your thoughts raised high, as
she is interested to pursue a
nice that we worked together on
long as a rare excitement stirs your
PhD later. As far as I am
your research topic.”
spirit and your body. Laistrygonians, Cyclops, wild Poseidon – you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope your road is a long one. May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy, you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind – as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and go on learning from their scholars. Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you’re old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you wouldn't have set out. She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.” Contribution by Prof.dr. P.Y. Georgiadou (Yola) ITC GRADUATION EDITION | 2020
27
JORIEN TERLOUW, ON BEHALF OF
THE ITC AND ALUMNI COMMUNITY Congratulations to the Class of 2020 and welcome to the #ITCfamily! You should be incredibly proud of your accomplishments, I know we are as you have successfully navigated your last semester under unusual circumstances. The ITC community is always here for you, keep in touch and we wish you all the best with your future adventures!
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
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