Erasmus Mundus Students

We, the MESD students, are a group of people from America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, all engineers pursuing a Master’s degree in Membrane Engineering. This is the second semester after we spent our first semester at two different universities: one group in Spain and the other in France. To date, this experience has not only deepened our knowledge in our field but also exposed us to cultural and academic contrasts that have shaped our learning and personal growth.

For those who studied in Zaragoza (Spain), cultural immersion made our experience unforgettable. The interaction between professors and students was very smooth, facilitating communication and learning. Additionally, extracurricular activities enriched our stay, with events like the trip to Monasterio de Piedra, a breathtaking nature reserve. Academically, as engineers, while we were used to technical subjects, our courses were new to us because in Zaragoza, we explored engineering from a business perspective. We developed soft skills, learned brainstorming techniques, and practiced elevator pitches. The MESD program has stimulated our entrepreneurial spirits, making us see engineering as a tool not only for problem-solving but also for creating economic value.

In contrast, those who studied in Toulouse (France) experienced a much more challenging and independent educational system, where learning required greater autonomy. This approach was different from the education styles in most of our home countries, where professors tend to offer more guidance. A curious detail we noticed in everyday life was the French habit of saying tac after completing each step in a multistep task—something none of us had seen before.

In terms of cultural differences, Zaragoza introduced us to how Spaniards celebrate and how they use religious festivities as an excuse to gather in the streets. A perfect example of this was the Fiestas del Pilar on 12 October, where people of all ages joined in festivities that transformed the city for two weeks. Another surprising aspect of life in Spain was the noise level in public transport—Spaniards are incredibly extroverted and turn trams and buses into lively social spaces. We also enjoyed the tradition of tapeo, where we shared beers with small but delicious portions of food. Moreover, we found that Spaniards are very friendly, which made us feel welcome from the start.

Housing is also different every semester. In Zaragoza, we lived in shared apartments but had private rooms, whereas in Prague, we all reside in student dormitories with shared rooms. This intensified the cultural exchange, leading us to experience diversity even more intensely while learning to embrace our differences.

Finally, one of the most unexpected cultural shocks in Prague was the university’s promotion of events like speed dating. Receiving an official email inviting us to an event to find a potential romantic match was entirely surprising for most of us, reflecting a very different approach to social life in the academic setting.