Erblin Ibrahimi, Kosovo

Why Groningen?

Unlike most other alumni ambassadors, I was already very familiar with the city before I decided to do my studies here. Originally from the Republic of Kosovo, my parents fled from the war with Serbia and came to the Netherlands when I was quite young. After having stayed in multiple asylum centres, we arrived at our final destination: Groningen! Growing up here, it never ceased to amaze me how friendly and accepting Groningers are. Even though I am technically not a Dutchman, I was never treated differently and have always felt very included in an active and lively city such as Groningen. To me, this is incredibly valuable, which made my decision to stay in Groningen for my studies a very easy one.

Why the University of Groningen?

Due to my positive experiences in Groningen, I was prepared to do my studies here, regardless of the quality of the university. I knew that the RUG branded itself as a top 100 university, but I never fully understood how good and inclusive the RUG actually is before I started studying here. I had initially decided to study Artificial Intelligence but quickly realised that this programme was not the best pick for me. During these months, however, I had first-hand experience with how friendly and knowledgeable the professors and other staff members were. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the RUG offers many different ways for students to become more active within the university; whether this is by offering the Honours College programme to the top students, becoming a Teaching Assistant or Student Mentor, joining university committees or simply participating in study associations that the RUG closely works together with. This signifies how much the RUG focuses on the personal development of the students while providing them with quality education in a friendly environment. It goes without saying that I decided to stay at the RUG to pursue my current degree in Computing Science.

Biography

I am Erblin Ibrahimi and I am a computer scientist from the Republic of Kosovo. I am incredibly lucky to have been blessed with the chance to grow up in a progressive country such as the Netherlands and fully intend on making the most out of the opportunities that have been presented to me. Once I finish my master's, I plan on moving back to Kosovo eventually, using the experience and knowledge that I have obtained here to give back to my mother country. The Teaching Assistant of the Year title that I have recently achieved will definitely come in handy and I hope to educate as many young and energetic students that are interested in my field as possible. I believe it is essential to inspire them to be the best version possible of themselves and most importantly: enjoy the process.

If you have any questions about the application procedure, studying and living in Groningen or anything else, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help!