Juan, who studied in several European countries, answers that question from his own experience. His motto: “Step out of your own cultural comfort zone. Open yourself up to other perspectives. What you learn from that will enrich your work and your social life. And you’ll make friends with the same mindset, not necessarily with the same background or origin.”

Shreya comes from India and started her studies at TU/e in 2015. She immediately felt welcome but had to get used to some Dutch habits, such as sharing a teabag or the typically Dutch tikkie payment request. Back then, she was often the only person of a different skin color in meetings. These days, diversity in backgrounds has become much more the norm.

Wherever they come from, most alumni I meet are not only grateful for their time here, they also make a conscious effort to come back. They want to inspire others and share their experiences. According to them, the Eindhoven mix of cultures provides valuable insights – not only about technology, but also about working and living together.

Shreya met her husband in a working group. Juan learned from others how to look at problems from multiple perspectives. They are alumni now, but their stories remain relevant to students. They show that with an open mind, cultural differences shift from obstacles to enrichments.

Because when you graduate, you’ll be working in a world that’s just as international as your working group. The world is already here. All you have to do is connect with it.

Edith Snelders is head of office for Alumni Relations and University Fund Eindhoven. The views expressed in this column are her own.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.