Biruk Tadesse Woldearegay & Teketsel Tsige Sahilu from Ethiopia

“Studying the MEEM has been one of my best life time experiences! The program is well equipped with experienced professors, instructors, program managers and coordinators. It is designed in such a way to be participative; it provided me with the chance to realize my potential and fulfill my dream.  In the middle of a busy class schedule all the refreshment programs and the excursions are well thought and appropriate.  
The program is also well versed with the current environmental, energy and climate change issues and I believe it will enable graduates to tackle multidisciplinary issues with regard to governance, management and technology of energy and the environment. “ Biruk Tadesse Woldearegay

“There was never a doubt that I would pick Environment and Energy Management for my MSc study. The perfect combination of my favorite subjects in one MSc program sparked my interest to join University of Twente (UT). As I am working in Ministry of Mines and Energy of Ethiopia, I felt that this program will satisfy my curiosity about the environment and energy, and hoped it will lead me to a career that aims at contributing in finding a ways to effectively use the scarce energy resources of the country and contribute in the effort to ensure the development of the mineral resources in a sustainable way.

I was right; the program was well designed to provide up to date knowledge and skill in the field through high profile instructors, and to motivate students to dig into the subject in more depth on their own, with full support and guidance from well experienced enthusiastic program managers and coordinators. I also see the university as an opportunity to utilize better facilities and expertise, as it is the only fully equipped campus in the whole Netherlands. Now, I am back in my home county with eyes opened to deal with vast problems pertaining to environment and energy management and I understand that I must contribute all I can and rise to all the challenges put to me.

In addition to my academic interest, I am convinced that pursuing my studies in internationally recognised high ranking university (UT), with international students from 14 countries, diverse culture, background and experience provided me with an opportunity for informal intercultural education, and it was an excellent investment for my future professional career in the sector. The social events, such as international student’s dinner day, bowling, the educational excursions, and the Amsterdam tour which were systematically organized by the university and injected in the midst of the intensive course work, were some that everyone involved has so much enjoyed and were so important to me in that it thought me how to be part of a team and socialize with someone from different culture and background.

In conclusion, I would like to express my best acknowledgment to all MEEM staffs for their academic instruction, advice and administrative support which significantly contributed to the attractiveness of the program and made my stay in the Netherlands enjoyable.” Teketsel Tsige Sahilu

Biruk Tadesse Woldearegay & Teketsel Tsige Sahilu,

MEEM 2009-2010 Programme