EMJM student Rodrigo about the programme: "A whole new world of knowledge and opportunities"

Name: Rodrigo Luna Esquivel
Age: 26
From: Mexico
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?

After my Bachelor's, I was really interested in pursuing a master's degree, and for years I had already heard about the Erasmus Mundus Joint programmes. I knew these programmes offered high quality and that competition to get a spot was high, but I decided to try. While searching through the official list of programmes, I found the EMJM Imaging programme. I immediately became interested in the Italy–Finland path because the courses and the quality of the institutions were remarkable. Moreover, I believed that my background in computer science and optics could support my application, and I felt this programme was the right option for me.

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?

Living in Milan was very interesting. The city is beautiful, and the facilities that Politecnico di Milano offers its students are excellent for getting involved with the institution and meeting other international students. However, as with living in any big city, adapting to Milan was not always easy. Learning where to buy groceries, how public transport works, and how to communicate with my basic Italian was a daily challenge. What surprised me most was how much support I received from people who helped me overcome these challenges.

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?

Lectures feel similar, but the workload is different. In Italy, there was a strong focus on theoretical work, while in Finland laboratory sessions and practical assignments are much more common. As a city, Tampere is smaller than Milan, with its pros and cons, but it is certainly a very nice place to live, with easy access to nature and excellent student facilities. Of course, one of the biggest changes has been the winter. It is well known that winters in Finland are tough, and Tampere is no exception, but this has also been an interesting experience for me.

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

At Polimi, I was surprised by how in-depth the theoretical content was in courses like Applied Statistics, Deep Learning, and Machine Learning. Handling all the concepts, procedures, and models was certainly a challenge, and trusting in my process was fundamental. On the other hand, in Tampere, it has been inspiring to see the considerable number of resources and laboratories dedicated to imaging and computer vision research. Courses like Imaging Systems Laboratories really take advantage of the university’s facilities and allow us to work with advanced research tools.

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

The programme has opened up a whole new world of knowledge and opportunities for me. I have learned the fundamentals of recent advancements in computer science and engineering, and I feel capable of contributing to technological developments. I am still deciding whether my path will be in industry or academia, but I want to remain closely involved with areas such as computer vision and image processing. The future will determine where I belong, but the programme has shaped my profile to fit into multiple paths.

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

I would say: challenging, transformative, and rewarding.

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 that the programme is a fantastic opportunity, but it comes with hard work and several challenges. Here, I have had the chance to live experiences I never thought I would have, and even on the most difficult days, I constantly felt that I was improving my skills and growing as a person. There may be moments when you feel that situations are beyond your capacity, but those moments are part of the process and help you become stronger and more capable.

Here, I have had the chance to live experiences I never thought I would have, and even on the most difficult days, I constantly felt that I was improving my skills and growing as a person.