Graduation magazine Master's Spatial Engineering

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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