Live and learn

Carl Hakim from Egypt has successfully completed his Master's degree in environmental design at the Faculty of Ecotechnology. After the summer holidays, he plans to delve into more detailed research in his field of studies.

“I have been accepted into a PhD program at ITMO. Before immersing myself fully into this new phase of academic pursuit, I have decided to take advantage of the summer break by traveling the country and enjoying some well-deserved vacation time,” shares Carl.

Reflecting upon his time at the university, he marks his personal growth: “The rich coursework offered by the university faculty and diverse experiences gained through various university activities have contributed significantly towards shaping both my academic acumen and professional development.”

Emina Iskhakova, an international student from Uzbekistan, has also chosen to stay at ITMO. A graduate of the Intelligent Systems in Humanities Bachelor’s program, she is now shifting her focus to business and will pursue a Master's degree in business transformation technologies and strategies.

“I’ve got a scholarship from Rossotrudnichestvo and the Ministry of Education and Science. I’ll probably go on another exchange semester, so I’ll continue traveling for sure!” adds Emina. 

When talking about useful ITMO experience, she highlights the knowledge in data visualization and management that she acquired by attending soft skills courses.

Explore the world

But studies aren’t the only option! For example, Aleksandra Ilieva from the Republic of Macedonia has chosen to expand her horizons by visiting new countries right after getting her Master's degree from the Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations.

“After graduation, I choose to embark on a journey of exploration through travel. The world is a vast tapestry of cultures, perspectives, and stories. By actively seeking out and listening to people’s narratives, I open myself to a kaleidoscope of experiences and ideas that make us who we are as a collective human family,” says Aleksandra.

Aleksandra is also a writer. During her studies, she finished a second book of poetry that is not yet published and is currently committed to working on the next one.

“It will not be poetry. It's about time to sculpt something more realistic and already realized – I'm more focused on building real characters at the core. The more substantial the characters – the firmer the foundation for a worthwhile book,” she comments.

Out of all courses she’s taken, she finds soft skills the most practice-oriented: “Without soft skills, it is practically impossible to experience the world more «painlessly». The flexibility is highly crucial.”

“I truly became a part of ITMO.Family. First, I want to express my sincere appreciation to my mentor – Anton Antipov. I had the opportunity to collaborate with an ambitious professor, and for that I’m extremely grateful. In summary, you become a reflection of your mentor. Getting a Master's degree at such a university as ITMO, especially as a scholarship holder, was a huge honor for me,” concludes Aleksandra.

Down to business 

Vietnamese graduate Huong Giang studied biotechnologies at ITMO; here, she learned to bake bread, brew beer, and make wine, and became inspired by Russian culture in the process. Now that she’s got her diploma, Huong is returning to her home country to start an ambitious project.

“Getting my Master's isn’t a priority. I’m going back home to do what I always wanted — open a small bakery combining Russian and Vietnamese cultures. This way, I’ll introduce local people to the unique features of Russian cuisine,” shares Huong Giang.

She is determined to apply her specialized knowledge in the nearest future: “It can be said that my specialization has helped me enrich my experience, learn from others, develop myself and, importantly, learn about Russian bread, so that when I return to Vietnam, I can show everyone how rich and diverse Russian culinary culture is”.