EMJM student Felix about the programme: ”Challenging, Global and Inspiring”

Name: Felix Rojas Casadiego
Age: 22
From: Colombia
Programme: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Imaging, the Image modeling and data-intensive imaging track

What motivated you to choose the EMJM Imaging programme, and how did you know it was the right fit for you?

I always wanted to study abroad for a longer time to experience different cultures. During my bachelor's in Colombia, I realized I really liked imaging and computer vision in general. I chose the EMJM program because the study plan had the topics I wanted to learn, and it gave me the chance to study in top European universities.

You did your first year of the programme in Politecnico di Milano, Italy. What was that experience like – academically, socially, and culturally? Was there anything that surprised you about studying or living in Italy?

PoliMi was quite challenging for me, but in a good way. I learned a lot, and I think I became more independent too. Milan is a very busy city, always moving, and I liked that energy. Socially, it was really nice because I met people from many countries. One thing I liked a lot is that Milan is very well connected, so during free time it was easy to travel to other cities in Italy or even to other parts of Europe.

And now you are in your second year of the programme, studying in Tampere University, Finland. How does life and study in Finland compare with Italy?

Finland feels very different from Italy. The study style here is more practical and project-based, which I like because you get to work more by yourself and really understand the topic. Outside of university, the biggest difference is definitely the weather. It is much colder, but at the same time the nature is beautiful and very peaceful. I also had the chance to go to Rovaniemi, see the Santa Claus Village, and even the reindeers. And I saw the northern lights, which was something I will never forget.

Is there a particular course, project, or subject that has stood out as especially inspiring or challenging? Why?

The most interesting course for me was Computer Vision at Tampere University. We studied the basic ideas behind modern systems, like CNNs and Transformers, and that was very inspiring because before that I only knew them in a general way. In the course, I understood better how these models are used in real tasks, like image classification, image retrieval, and object detection.

How has the programme shaped your future goals, and what are your plans after graduation?

This programme helped me understand more clearly what I want to do next. It gave me a stronger base in deep learning and AI, especially for computer vision. After graduation and finishing my thesis, I would like to work as a Machine Learning Engineer, preferably in computer vision. My goal is to build useful AI applications and keep learning and improving in the field.

If you had to describe your EMJM experience in three words, what would they be?

Challenging, Global, Inspiring.

What would you like to say to other students who are thinking of applying to the programme or going abroad to study in general?

I would say: "Go for it!". It can feel scary at first, especially if you are moving far from home, but it is also a very good experience for personal growth. You meet people from many countries, you learn to adapt, and you learn a lot about yourself too. If you really like the field and you want to study abroad, then it is worth trying.

This programme helped me understand more clearly what I want to do next. It gave me a stronger base in deep learning and AI, especially for computer vision.