Alumnus in the spotlight: Sameer Nizamudeen (ME'23)

Monday 2 March 2026

From tropical India to high-tech robotics in the Netherlands

Interview with alumnus Sameer Nizamudeen (ME’23)
By Diana Dalenoord (UT Alumni Officer)

A leap to Twente

Through the UT office in India, Sameer discovered the University of Twente. The warm welcome, the clear information and even a WhatsApp group with other Indian students ensured that his transition went smoothly.

The Netherlands surprised him, not only because of the seasons, but especially because of the atmosphere on campus: open, green and everyone was equally friendly. “Because everyone speaks English, I felt at home right away.”

Choosing Mechanical Engineering was an easy decision. The curriculum matched his fascination with biomedical robotics perfectly. He also appreciated the hands-on approach: immediately applying what you learn in realistic, socially oriented projects.

A home away from home

The UT offered international students plenty of personal support. Sameer easily found a room and ended up in an international student house. The Kick-In also played a major role.

Learning by doing

From modelling heat transfer on aircraft wings to advanced control theory in the master’s programme, Sameer enjoyed the freedom to shape his own curriculum.

His internship and graduation project at Demcon gave him a first glimpse into the Dutch high-tech industry. “Designing non-linear control strategies for flexible robots was exactly where I wanted to go.”

Why stay in the Netherlands?

For Sameer, the decision was simple:

– good work–life balance

– strong robotics industry

– opportunities to specialise further

At AWL, an international company that develops advanced automation worldwide for the automotive and metal industries, he found the perfect place.

Robots that build cars

As a Junior Robot Control Engineer in AWL’s car manufacturing department, Sameer programmes robots that produce various car components. He ensures they operate safely, quickly and efficiently.

From simulation and programming to methodical problem-solving, his degree forms the foundation of his daily work. In addition, he learns “on the job” what AWL projects specifically require. “The biggest gain? Learning how to approach every problem systematically.”

Sameer feels at home at AWL. The collegiality is strong, the work is challenging, and the company invests in his development, even in his Dutch language lessons. But he is also honest with new internationals: “It’s not all stroopwafels & rainbows.”

Finding a job takes time and perseverance. Sameer's advice? “Apply for your orientation year visa right after graduation! After that, you can upgrade to the highly skilled migrant visa, just like I did.”

Sameer looks back on his Twente adventure with pride. His passion for robotics continues to thrive in a high-tech environment where automation shapes the future.

Sameer's UTwente DNA

Study programme: Mechanical Engineering

Specialisation: Robotics

Favourite subject:
My favourite subject was the Master’s ME Robotics Specialisation subject “Advanced Control Engineering”.
I liked this subject a lot because it dived deeper into Control Engineering strategies for more complex systems. I found the complexity of the different advanced control strategies very interesting. I liked the challenging mathematics behind deriving these control strategies and the final reward: a very precise, stable, and robust control strategy for a variety of high-tech industrial applications.

Favourite lecturer:
My favourite lecturer was Jurnan Schilder. He was the lecturer for the Master’s ME Robotics Specialisation subject “Flexible Multibody Dynamics”. The subject itself was one of the most complex and mathematically advanced courses in the ME programme, yet Jurnan was able to teach it in a way that it was effortlessly clear and easy to grasp. His lectures were always engaging and kept you on the edge of your seat till the end. He also always took time to answer any questions you had, no matter how big or small they were.

Member of a study association:
I was a part of W.S.G Isaac Newton, the study association for ME. I participated in several activities, but never organised one.
One of my favourite events organised by Newton is the Project Nights, in which they organise dinner and coffee for your project group in the Horst. You could sit down together into the early hours of the morning. After which you can head down to the Diepzat with your project group for a well-deserved beer!

Sports:
I was a part of the football association VV Drienerlo. Although it was nice to win football matches together with the team, I always found the weekly training sessions much more fun as it was a nice way to play, train, and socialise with your teammates.

Contact with other alumni:
I am still friends with several classmates who studied with me during my time at the University of Twente. They happen to be some of my closest friends and we still regularly meet up even though life has taken us in different directions since our university days.

Best memory of the UT:
My best memory of the UT is also probably one of my first memories which was my Bachelor’s Kick-In. I had an amazing time exploring and learning about the campus while feeling so welcomed by everyone around me, from my Do-Group parents to my future classmates.

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