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International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience THE ACADEMIC who promotes… PROFESSOR PASCAL VERDONCK, GHENT UNIVERSITY, BELGIUM Since the start of my research group engineering students will go abroad for their “Cardiovascular Mechanics and Biofluid first international engineering experience. Mechanics” in 1996, we have received at The whole process involves 130 students least one IAESTE trainee each year. This and more than 100 professionals in Belgium summer, three students from Denmark, to guide them to their full potential. IAESTE ANNUAL REVIEW 2006 Croatia and Spain will receive training in our laboratory. They will be integrated into ongoing research projects and will be able to realise a student-specific dedicated task under the supervision of an engineer and in collaboration with a medical doctor. The current topics vary from modelling of cell behaviour in a bio-artifi cial liver, to modelling, simulating and programming software for non-invasive assessment of blood vessel function using ultrasound-based technology. During their training, our IAESTE students are thus provided with the opportunity to have a hands-on view on Biomedical Engineering research and prototyping which might lead to future clinical diagnosis modalities and therapeutic technology. This level of exchange became available thanks to IAESTE Belgium. IAESTE Belgium was one of the Founding Members of the International Association back in 1948 and has been a loyal and active Member ever since. Although Ghent University and the Free University of Brussels are currently the only two actively participating universities, no less than 70 visiting students will be trained in Belgium this year, while at least 60 Belgian The Local Committee in Gent, whose administrative responsibility started in 1995, has always been an active member. Before that, there was some administrative support from National or Regional Employer Societies. Back in 1998, we convinced our Faculty Board to invest in a full-time professional for public relations, including administrative support for IAESTE Belgium. Thanks to this vision, we have been able to start a well structured organisation that guarantees a solid framework with continuation, independent of rotating academics, administrators, students, etc. The headquarters are situated in the main building of the Engineering School at Ghent University and are managed by the Local Committee President, Tim Vanden Berghe and by our public relations officer from the Engineering Faculty, Annelies Vermeir who is also the National Secretary of IAESTE Belgium. Besides the increasing interest from incoming and outgoing students (a growth of more than 60% during the last three years), we should also highlight the organisation of the 10th JUMP “Training and Motivation Seminar” in 2004 (29 September – 3 October) at Ghent University, with 60 participating delegates from 16 different countries. In Belgium, IAESTE offers the opportunity for students to be trained in an international environment, to experience new cultures and to gain a unique experience in an engineering lab. Each year, the incoming trainees can count on a warm welcome and the unforgettable hospitality of a local group of enthusiastic students. Annelies Vermeir, National Secretary and PR-officer of the Engineering Faculty of Ghent University (left) visits Professor Verdonck and two of his international students (right) Our lab members are delighted to meet these young enthusiastic trainees. Even more exciting, is the fact that we still have contact with some of our former students who are now working for an international biomedical engineering company, or who are running their own small-sized company. We received students from as far as Lebanon, and our latest trainee, Paul, whom we trained in 2005, is now making a Master thesis at the TU Trondheim about heart valve modelling. This topic came up by accident during one of the many discussions in our lab and proves his personal curiosity to look further than the scheduled tasks. Our staff is very motivated to yearly invest some fascinating time in new potentials, to share with them our laboratory life and of course integrate them in the rich social and cultural life of our city. This process started all by accident but is now continued with a big heart. I can only recommend my academic and industrial colleagues to support this non-governmental organisation IAESTE. Open your door and let students share your professional experience so that they remain motivated to invest in a better future and welfare in favour of all. 20
I A E S T E — A N N U A L R E V I E W 2 0 0 6 THE STUDENT who benefi ts … JOSE MIGUEL PARLONA – A GREAT IAESTE EXPERIENCE! This story began when a couple of friends told me to register for the IAESTE Selection Process 2004-2005 and since that moment my goals were focused through one horizon: not only being a good student but also growing as a human being and professionally! Along with other students I took different examinations and participated in many interesting Conferences given by Professionals who worked in one of the most prestigious Master Business Schools in Peru. After being evaluated, I was selected by the National Committee. My dream was coming true but ironically I could not go because the traineeship I was given clashed with my University exams so I decided not to go but to fi nish my Mechanical Engineering Studies by the fi rst semester of 2006 and to prepare myself again to be part of this group and fi nally I achieved it. IAESTE Process 2005-2006, People Government Conference The process 2005-2006 demanded hard work. Because I had already been through the selection process I wanted to help and participate in the activities of the National Committee. I was asked to give some Informative Conferences in my University and did it with a lot of excitement and responsibility. Furthermore, I had the chance to visit The Lima Children’s Hospital every Sunday and did some social work there with other candidates. It was spectacular and shocking at the same time talking to the parents or relatives of the children who told us how hard is for them, not only to afford medicine, but also to leave their work from the countryside to be with their children in the capital of Peru. This is when I realised how important IAESTE is in my community: not only getting skilled in technical experience but also promoting international understanding and goodwill between people and trying to create better life conditions. Many candidates applied for IAESTE placements but in the end only seventeen succeeded in getting a traineeship. Since 2001 when IAESTE in Peru was established twenty fi ve students have benefi ted from an IAESTE placement so each year we manage to increase the number of traineeships. The ruins of Macchu Picchu, “The Lost City from the Incas” discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 By August 2005 the selection process was already completed. Now it was time to prepare the International Students Reception Committee which welcomed students from Finland, Serbia and Montenegro and Colombia. We spent a beautiful one-week trip to Cusco, the main archeological city in South America and the capital of the Inca Empire. We were able to appreciate a lot of historical walls and ruins, green landscapes full of the history of the Incas, the white splendour and magic from La Cordillera de los Andes and the spectacular Lost City of Macchu Picchu. One of the most memorable times during this seven day trip happened in a Children’s Shelter called “La Esperanza” where young La Esperanza Children’s Shelter, Cusco 2005 children showed us that hope is not a utopia but is living with kindness and tenderness. We spent the best morning ever sharing, dancing, singing and playing games with them. While there we participated in a birthday party for a seventeen year-old girl so the chocolate cake and sodas we got were special for this lovely and impressive day. It was really touching when all of us sang the Happy Birthday song and this cute girl expressed her emotion by dropping innocent tears. It was the fi rst time in years that she had had a party and we were lucky to be there with all of them. Back in the city, a Swiss trainee had arrived and he with the other trainees continued their placements at Telefónica del Peru, a Communications Company in my country and during their time there were working on IP systems. At the end of their traineeships all of them were glad to have worked in this big Company. Andrés, Eric, Antti, Marko and Jose at the Cusco Main Square, Perú Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to the IAESTE Peru National Committee. They were the ones who allowed me to meet not only good friends but also helped me to focus on the goals I have in life. My next step is Austria, a great country where I am going to work in August 2006 and I think this will be another “Great IAESTE Experience”. José Miguel Pariona Lártiga PERSPECTIVES 21
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