Student Testimonial

Pavlo Topalli

Personal information

• Age: 27
• Country of origin: Albania/Greece
• Current Residence: Delft, the Netherlands

Pavlo from Greece

Dear prospective MOT’er, you are so lucky to be on this website, because you've found the perfect guide on what your future experience will be in the MOT programme!

I am Pavlo Topalli, born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, with Albanian origins. Let me take you through my life journey and explain why and how I ended up in the MOT programme. My bachelor's degree focused on Applied Informatics, a joint programme in Computer Science and Economics at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki. As you can imagine, my bachelor's was quite technical.

During my studies, I participated in the Erasmus Exchange Programme at the University of Twente in the Netherlands for six months, which might give you a hint of where this story is headed. Coincidentally, while there, my studies delved into the business aspects of technology, and I realized my inclination towards being the mediator between engineers and upper management. This experience exposed me to the Dutch culture in an international context, the academic environment, and countless opportunities. After that, I set a goal for myself and declared, "I'LL BE BACK" (in Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice).

I returned to Greece, completed my BSc studies, fulfilled my army duties, and then decided to pursue a master's programme with less technical focus. During my research, I stumbled upon MOT. While applying, I was initially sceptical about an MSc programme at TU Delft due to the university's technical nature. However, after reading older student testimonials, I realized this programme was completely different from what I had in mind. So, I applied and got accepted!

So far, MOT has given me a new perspective on the importance of considering people who, in one way or another, influence or are influenced by new innovative technologies. This master's programme is perfect for those who want to explore different career paths: business consultants, innovation managers, project/product managers, startup entrepreneurs, policy officers, academic researchers, and anything else you can think of. It provides the opportunity to expand into any sector of interest, aligned with one's Bachelor studies or not. For example, during my studies, I had the opportunity, through the Joint Interdisciplinary Project option, to explore the aviation industry, which enchanted me. In the second year of my studies, I worked as a Teaching Assistant, alongside my professors, assisting them with administrative and educational aspects of their courses. I also seized the opportunity to work on an EU-funded research project, expanding my knowledge in business ethics, academic research methods, sustainability, and data sharing. The international nature of this programme, collaboration with people of different disciplines during group assignments, and multiple perspectives are expanding my view, and I feel like the meme with Eric Wareheim - MINDBLOWN.

Another important aspect of MOT is that the professors are keen on customizing the educational experience and accommodating the needs of the students as much as possible. In our faculty, Technology, Policy & Management (TPM), people come first. Even though steps need to be taken towards the integration of Dutch and international students, the environment is very inclusive and strives to address the needs of various groups prone to marginalization due to sexual orientation, disability, ethnic background, etc.

Of course, the road of this programme is not all sunshine and roses, and there are still improvements to be made, but TU Delft offers great opportunities to those who are brave enough to chase them. Networking with companies, multiple career fairs, freedom to choose electives and specialization, and the hands-on educational approach make this master's ideal for those who want to diverge from pure engineering and open up to people and how to make a better future for them possible.

Finally, I want to conclude by reiterating some well-stated questions from a fellow MOT alumnus: Do you want to escape from the technical jobs that you are capable of but not willing to do? Do you want to apply the technical knowledge you have gained but in a more "top-level" environment? Then, MOT is for you!

Cheerio, Pavlo