Photo exhibition at the ACE library: The Global Mentorship Program
Welcome to a photo exhibition at the ACE library and get inspired by other students and learn more about the global mentorship program.
From 2020 Chalmers has a mentorship program with focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and internationalization in low- and middle-income countries in Asia, Africa and South America. The Global Mentorship Program creates unique opportunities to practice international work and to build your networks in preparation for your future career.
More info here: https://www.chalmers.se/utbildning/dina-studier/planera-och-genomfora-studier/stipendier-for-studenter/the-global-mentorship-program/
Opening: October 7 at 16:00
Location: ACE library
Duration: October 7 - November 10
Fika and coffee will be served!
We have interviewed former students Anjuli, Elias, Victor, Imran and Nathalie who participate in the exhibition.
Elias & Victor - Global Systems, Industrial Ecology
What new perspectives or insights have you gained from studying abroad?
-We realized that while humans are complex in many ways, at the same time we are also quite simple. A key part of happiness comes from seeing clear progress over time. Even though the standard of living in Sweden is much higher than in Rwanda, the collective sense of progress in Rwanda plays a crucial role in creating optimism and hope for the future.
What was your first impression of the country and its culture?
Our first impression was how calm everything felt compared to the image we had of Africa beforehand. The capital of Rwanda, Kigali, where we spent most of our time, compared to other major cities in East Africa, could almost be compared to how the Nordics differ from Southern Europe. People in Rwanda tend to be shy and polite, and the streets are neither crowded with traffic nor filled with people.
What was the most memorable moment?
-One of the most memorable moments was when we visited a rural household together with a solar energy company. The family told us how solar power had transformed their daily lives by providing things we often take for granted, such as light in the evenings and the ability to listen to the radio. Experiencing this firsthand gave us a perspective you simply cannot get from watching a video online.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your time abroad?
-At first we tried reaching out to companies through emails and phone calls, but that led nowhere. Eventually we realized that in Rwanda you often need to show up at the office in person if you want things to move forward, which is quite the opposite of how it usually works in Sweden. This was challenging since many companies had multiple addresses listed, streets in Kigali often had very similar names, and some businesses had recently shut down. As a result we spent a lot of time riding motorbikes to the wrong places, but in the end this effort was necessary to secure our interviews.
Is there anything you’d like to share with students who are considering studying abroad?
-Writing your master’s thesis in collaboration with a company might be the safer choice if your main goal is to secure a job afterward. But choosing an adventure like studying abroad is something you will never regret. It is an experience that is hard to recreate once you have started working. Things may not always go as planned, but eventually they fall into place. That is why we wholeheartedly recommend taking the chance.
Anjuli - Architecture and planning beyond sustainability, MSc (MPDSD)
What new perspectives or insights have you gained from studying abroad?
Studying abroad gave me a new perspective on how meaningful collaboration can be when you truly listen to the people you are working with. I realized that success is not only about finishing a project but about creating something together that people can be proud of. I also learned to be more flexible and patient, and to appreciate cultural differences as opportunities to grow.
What was your first impression of the country and its culture?
My first impression was how warm, welcoming, and curious people were. The culture felt very community-oriented, and even though I was a stranger, I quickly felt included. It was a reminder of how openness and hospitality can make you feel at home, even far away from home.
What was the most memorable moment?
Seeing the children realise that what we built together is something they accomplished and how proud it made them.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your time abroad?
I worked with a school that had 1.600 children from grade 1-9. I only worked with 15 of the 7th graders.
One of the biggest challenges was to be able to work outside with these 15 children without getting interrupted by the 1.600 other children. Finding a balance of letting them watch what we where doing, to not totally exclude them, and having enough space to work, was really hard sometimes. I went by myself which is a great opportunity to get to know people from the country easier but can also be lonely sometimes. For me personal it was great this way but when you have trouble being alone and are more introverted it might be nice to find someone who joins you.
Is there anything you’d like to share with students who are considering studying abroad?
Be open minded and hearted, listen to the people on site they are the experts of their environment and don't forget to have fun.
Imran - Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability (MPDSD)
What new perspectives or insights have you gained from studying abroad?
-My experience was a bit different as I went back to my home country, Bangladesh. I could apply, test, and discuss tools and methods from the master’s program at Chalmers in real cases across Dhaka’s organically grown urban areas. A key insight was that many contexts share the same challenge: ensuring meaningful, authentic citizen participation and co-creation in planning. This raised important questions about valuing tacit knowledge and bridging it into formal/institutional planning.
What was your first impression of the country and its culture?
-Although I lived in Dhaka for over 15 years, returning through the GMP gave me a new lens and more agency. I saw how people collectively adapt and create the social and cultural spaces they need, even when municipal planning falls short due to structural or organizational limits. It reaffirmed my belief in the power of collective agency to enable change in a contested context like Dhaka.
What was the most memorable moment?
-Working through participatory and co-creation approaches with universities, local school children, street vendors, urban farmers, and residents. Those meetings and exchange sessions were the highlight.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your time abroad?
-Data collection and running workshops in a short time frame were challenging. I had to plan carefully, fix dates, confirm participants, and prepare materials. In Dhaka’s contested context, documents, plans, and maps are often not well organized, so getting access required extra communication. Finding the right key person was essential to navigate these hurdles.
Is there anything you’d like to share with students who are considering studying abroad?
-Don’t assume “abroad” is too different to be relevant. The value lies in gaining a systems perspective and reflecting on both differences and similarities. Approach the GMP with an open mind and use it as a learning pathway—this will deepen your learning and strengthen your professional skills, regardless of where you work later.
Nathalie - Sustainable Energy Systems, MSc (MPSES)
What new perspectives or insights have you gained from studying abroad?
-In Rwanda, I both conducted my master's thesis and tried to navigate in a completely new culture at the same time. How to plan, what to plan, and how much to plan was different, and it was surprisingly not the way I had thought it would be. Different cultures can sometimes clash, but that does not mean that the Swedish way of doing or planning things is the right way, it is just different. In the context you are in, your way of doing things might not work, and then you have to adapt. You cannot really plan ahead in the same way, but that does not mean you do not plan at all. Flexibility and sensitivity to circumstances as they arise is crucial, and that I got to learn in Rwanda last spring.
What was your first impression of the country and its culture?
-I was somewhat prepared, as I had previously lived in Eastern Africa, so some things I knew and some things I did not know. Perhaps "first impressions" is not the right way of expressing it, but rather that I experienced a culture I had encountered earlier through the perspective of almost being a graduate engineer, which was something new. This time I noticed other aspects, for example how rainwater was managed and the different kinds of technology adapted to the local context.
What was the most memorable moment?
-Definitely the people we met, the conversations and the interviews. We had meaningful and memorable meetings, and these people I still carry with me in my heart.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your time abroad?
-One of the challenges was keeping track of what I had accomplished. Even though a timeline for the thesis was prepared before leaving Sweden, it had to be adapted and changed. New issues emerged, and I had to adjust my angle of interest in certain ways, which made it difficult to assess whether I was on the right track with my project.
Is there anything you’d like to share with students who are considering studying abroad?
-This is one of the best opportunities we have, and I would encourage everyone to go. You not only learn a lot but also grow as a person, which I believe is valuable in all areas of life.
