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Hi, I am Nessiba
1. What attracted you to apply to the UNITECH programme?
I first heard about UNITECH from students at my university who had participated in the program in previous years. They told me about the unique international environment, with students from universities across Europe, as well as the Coaching Weeks and the opportunity to discover different places and working cultures firsthand. These aspects really appealed to me, as I have always wanted to broaden my horizons and challenge myself in a multicultural environment. I was also excited by the Assessment Centre, as I saw it as an opportunity to push myself and experience a new type of challenge I haven’t experienced before.
2. Tell us about your Academic Exchange. Where did you study, and what did you enjoy the most? Were there any courses or experiences that particularly stood out?
I did my academic exchange at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Despite its reputation for having a demanding academic environment, I really enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to study at such a renowned institution.
Beyond academics, what stood out to me the most was the international atmosphere. Aachen attracts students from all over the world, and through university activities, cultural events, and everyday interactions, I had the chance to discover new perspectives and learn from people with very different backgrounds. The friends I made there came from all over the world, including India, Greece, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Ethiopia, and even locals from the Aachen region.
Although I was already familiar with multicultural environments from my life in France and in Mauritania, this experience exposed me to cultures and perspectives from parts of the world I had not encountered before. Being surrounded by such a broad international community was truly eye-opening and definitely one of the highlights of my exchange.
One of the things I also enjoyed the most was Aachen’s unique location. With the Netherlands within walking distance and Belgium and Luxembourg nearby, it is the perfect place to explore different countries. It is also very well connected to major German cities such as Cologne and Düsseldorf.
3. Tell us about your internship. Where did you complete it, and what was the most valuable experience or lesson you gained?
With my background in electrical engineering, I completed my internship at Danfoss Drives, part of Danfoss Power Electronics, in Gråsten, Denmark, where I worked on my master thesis project about estimating the lifetime of DC-link capacitors in variable frequency drives through a virtual thermal model.
Beyond the technical experience, this internship gave me the opportunity to discover Denmark for the first time, which was something I had always wanted to do. Living in Sønderborg, at the housing provided by Danfoss (40 minutes away from Gråsten), allowed me to experience a completely different lifestyle, from the calm coastal environment and connection with nature to the Danish concept of “hygge”. Compared to the more dynamic cities where I had previously lived and studied, I really appreciated this slower pace and strong sense of balance.
The most valuable lesson I gained was understanding how culture shapes the way teams work. Although Danfoss is a very international company, I discovered a very Danish approach to collaboration: people strongly value being present, working closely together, and building a sense of community within the team. It truly felt like everyone was working towards a common goal as part of one family, which showed me the importance of human connections in successful teamwork.
4. What was the biggest challenge you faced during your internship, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I faced during my internship was managing a demanding workload within a limited timeframe. Due to my exchange semester at RWTH Aachen, which follows a different academic calendar and ends later than many other universities, I only had five months to complete my master thesis. This created a more intense schedule and required me to carefully prioritize tasks to ensure that the most important aspects of the project were addressed while maintaining a high level of quality.
To overcome this challenge, I focused on prioritizing the most critical tasks and maintaining close communication with my supervisors and colleagues to ensure that expectations and progress remained aligned throughout the project. At the same time, I was willing to dedicate additional time outside of regular working hours when needed to move the project forward. I was also fortunate to work on a topic that I was genuinely passionate about, which made this extra effort feel rewarding rather than burdensome. This experience also confirmed something I would strongly recommend to anyone starting a thesis: choosing a topic that you are truly interested in and passionate about makes a significant difference, especially during the more challenging phases of the project.
5. Has UNITECH opened any opportunities that you might not otherwise have had?
UNITECH has definitely helped me a lot, especially when it came to finding internship opportunities. One thing that genuinely surprised me was the number of opportunities available through the program. I initially expected that I would have to rely mostly on my own applications and outreach, which is still something I strongly recommend, especially if there is a specific company you are interested in.
However, UNITECH provides a unique platform where connecting with corporate partners becomes much more accessible. The opportunity to meet company representatives directly, exchange with them on a personal level, and better understand their work environment is truly valuable. What surprised me the most was that companies also actively reach out to students, which created opportunities I had not anticipated. Within the first few months of the semester, I already had several internship offers to choose from, which was an incredible opportunity and something I was very grateful for.
6. What advice would you give to someone considering applying to UNITECH?
My biggest advice would simply be: apply. You truly have nothing to lose and so much to gain from the experience.
Even the application process itself is already a valuable opportunity. The first selection phase encourages a lot of self-reflection, making you think about your goals, your career aspirations, and what you are hoping to gain from the program. The Assessment Centre is also a great opportunity to challenge yourself and receive direct feedback from professionals, which is already an incredibly valuable experience regardless of the outcome.
And if you are selected, the experience only becomes richer. One thing we were often told throughout the program, and that I have experienced firsthand, is that UNITECH is a program where the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. You are given incredible opportunities, tools, and access to a strong international community, but it is up to you to make the most of them.
So my advice is: do not hesitate, apply. Whether it is through the application process itself, the people you meet, or the opportunities that come along the way, you can only gain from the experience.
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