After some time of preparation and planning I am now excited about the start of the programme. I wish you all a good and succesful start to your studies and look forward to meeting you in person soon!

My name is Saju Khakurel and I am from Nepal. I completed my undergrad in Electronics and Communication Engineering and currently working as an embedded firmware engineer at Yatri Motorcycles, Nepal's first electric bike manufacturer. Outside of work, I love traveling, I'm a big fan of Studio Ghibli, and I enjoy cooking.

From the EMINENT MSc program, I hope to deepen my technical expertise and gain new insights into advanced technologies. I'm also excited to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds and learn from experienced faculty. See you in Greece!

My passions are mostly computer centered; I put a lot of time into coding, and a bit of time into digital arts and design. I also watch various stuff and game often.

I'm hoping to learn a lot and have plenty of fun with everyone throughout the program. See ya!

I am currently in the process of graduating and receiving my BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Hungary). I am highly excited to be part of the first cohort of students of EMINENT program and can't wait to meet my fellow groupmates in Crete!

By joining the EMINENT program, I am looking forward to its vibrant community, sharpening my research capabilities and immersing myself in the culture and networking opportunities therein.

I am very excited to be a part of the EMINENT program and look forward to meeting all of you soon in Crete.

My name is Vincent Mwenda Mworia from Kenya, and I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural EMINENT MSc class. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronic Engineering from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya.

My professional journey has taken me through three main fields:

Industrial Automation

Software Development

Industry 4.0 / Industrial Internet of Things - linking the best of both worlds above.

I’m excited to dive deeper into embedded systems and leverage nanotechnology to supercharge IoT devices.

I’ve been a Siemens PLC trainer and an industrial automation consultant. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, biking, and jamming to music.

I love learning new things and sharing knowledge to master my craft. It’s an honor to be part of this pioneering group. Can’t wait to meet you all and make the most of our EMINENT journey together!

Accommodation

Securing accommodation during your mobility is often challenging. To assist with this, we have created a group where you can find helpful links and suggested houses to contact owners directly:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AccommodationHeraklionCrete/?ref=share (Official page by ESN Heraklion)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/241138386254729/?ref=share (This one is not from ESN, but could still have options for you)

Please note that the options in this Facebook Group might be limited.

To provide more assistance, we've also established a buddy system for apartment search guidance.

Before closing any booking anything be sure to discuss it with your buddy about areas that might be better or if we know the owner.

Below are links to start your search to have an idea by the time you get your buddy:

Open Market Links:
- [Spitogatos] (https://www.spitogatos.gr/en/to_rent-homes/heraclion-cretes)
- [Kritikes Aggelies] (https://www.kritikes-aggelies.gr/category/katoikies?pref=1&type=4)

*P.S.: HMU dorms are available only for international students who come outside the EU.

Buddy System (Opening on Monday 12th of August, First Come First Served Policy)

By completing the form on time, we'll match you with a local student who can help with your transition into Crete. 

Please note that, while your buddy will not search for an apartment for you, they will assist you in the process. 

They will also help you immerse in the local culture and be your first friend here in Crete.

[Buddy System Application Form] (Opening 12/08/2024)

WhatsApp Group Chat / Channels of Information

We have a group chat for all Erasmus students in Heraklion. It's a space for introductions, meetups, and primary communication regarding ESN events and important information.
[WhatsApp Community Group Chat] ( https://chat.whatsapp.com/Blzqr2s1jK8AKULIkmJcK4 )

Also, follow our [Facebook Page] (https://www.facebook.com/ESNHMUCrete) and [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/esnhmu/) to stay updated on all upcoming events.

Our Welcome Week will be from the 19th until the 25th of February.

Survival Guide

We understand you might have questions about documents to bring or what the city provides. We've prepared a 'Survival Guide' attached to this email to address these. 

You will find it attached below (a newer updated version, with more info, will be provided to you by the end of August).

Welcome Week

Our welcome week will take place for you this semester from Monday 30th of September until Sunday 6th of October, with daily events.

Details to be announced... Stay hyped!

Contact Information

More preferably, for any questions you might have, you can contact us anytime at info@hmucrete.esngreece.gr or our Instagram (@esnhmu).
If you encounter any issues during your Erasmus experience, please feel free to reach out to me directly by replying to this email.

Please note, that ESN HMU is responsible for students in the city of Heraklion only. Students from HMU studying in the city of Chania should contact ESN TUC via Instagram or email.

We look forward to welcoming you to the island of Crete! Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any queries.
Best regards,

Please advice during the summer break the attached document.

Come back to George Papadopoulos for more information.

Best

Kostas

My name is Ahmed Mohamady. I graduated from the Electrical Engineering school at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Following my graduation, I worked as an Embedded Software Engineer for over a year.

I am excited to be part of this program and to get to know all of you. I look forward to learning about different cultures and meeting people from various parts of the world. University taught me that it wouldn't work without friends, and it's always easier and better together. I hope we can form lasting friendships that we can happily and gladly remember one day.

Aside from my engineering background, I am really into history, music, and art. I am looking forward to seeing you all in Crete!

Looking forward to meet you all, learn a lot together, contribute to science and technology and doing my part to make this new EMINENT program one of the top referents in the field

I am hoping to learn lot from you all and make lots of friends.

My name is Adil, and i'm from Pakistan. I completed my bachelors in electrical engineering and afterwards, started working on programming for embedded systems and IoT. During my recent job, i have worked on various technologies that contribute to Agriculture 4.0 and water management. I have worked as Research Associate in one of the top research universities of my country i.e. LUMS.

From this master's programme, i'm hoping to learn a lot of new aspects about embedded and nanomaterials.

Apart from engineering stuff, i love doing photography and playing badminton. I'm so excited to dive into this diverse community of scholars!

Lets begin this journey with lots of fun memories!🥳

I am Anouar EL GAZRI from France, currently in the final year of my engineering program in IoT and Embedded Systems at the University of Orléans (UO, France). Alongside my engineering degree in Embedded Systems and Physical Engineering, I joined the MSc IoT double degree. My skills are focused on IoT (MCU, Cloud computing) and Embedded Systems (electrical engineering, embedded devices...).

Looking forward to meeting you.

Anouar

My name is Erwan, and I'm from France. I'm currently in my final year of engineering studies, specializing in embedded systems and IoT.

Outside of engineering, I enjoy climbing (I also teach this sport), hiking, and all kinds of outdoor activities.

I'm really excited to collaborate with this amazing community and create unforgettable memories together!

I am Jérémie from Orléans near Paris, I'm in my final year of my engineering school specialized in embedded systems and IOT.

I enjoy sports as basketball and football and I'm a very active person.

Very excited to be a part of this program and looking forwad to meeting all of you

Looking forward to connecting with all of you!

Azeddine

i am Yavo CHABEHOU, with a strong educational foundation in engineering and IoT from Polytech Orléans and INPHB, I has gained diverse experience through internships and project management roles. As a Microfluidic Device Intern at GREMI/PRISME, I honed skills in chip fabrication and impedance analysis. My role as a Fixed-term Project Manager at Academic FABLAB Polytech Orleans involved user support and workshop management, while my internship at Orange Digital Center focused on hardware development using Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

My name is Auguste, and I'm from Vilnius, Lithuania. I'm currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering at VilniusTech University. I also work in the field of embedded systems with a focus on medical devices and applications.

I'm really looking forward to joining the EMINENT program and meeting all of you in Crete!

I'm Ibrahima from France, currently in the final year of my Engineering program in Embedded Systems and IoT at Polytech Orléans.

In addition to my Engineering degree, I'm pursuing a Master's in IoT, with a strong interest in Full-Stack Development.

I'm passionate about bridging hardware and software, from setting up sensors, collecting and processing data, to enabling users to visualize and interact with this data seamlessly.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

Elhadji Ibrahima DIALLO

I'm Margarida, a second-year Micro and Nanotechnology Engineering student at NOVA School of Science and Technology, Portugal.

I have a strong passion for combining advanced materials and innovative technologies to create impactful solutions in electronics and embedded systems. My curiosity drives me to explore how emerging materials can shape the future of smart devices.

Participating in the EMINENT program is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with talented and driven individuals, learn from new perspectives, and contribute with my knowledge and enthusiasm.

Looking forward to meeting you all in Crete!

Looking forward to meeting you.

My name's Mantas. I am a 3rd year student of Electronics engineering at Vilnius Tech university. I hope this BIP helps me to broaden my knowledge in nanotechnology and nanomaterials and what kind of research is currently being done in those fields.

See you all in Heraklion!

I'm Guilherme, a third-year Materials Engineering student at NOVA School of Science and Technology, in Lisbon. My primary interests include nanotechnology, electronics, energy storage devices, and biomaterials.

I'm currently working on my bachelor's thesis, which involves developing a device capable of generating electricity through humidity adsorption.

Looking forward to meeting you all in Crete!

I am a curious and driven person that wants to know more about... well, everything!

I'm so excited for this program! I look forward to meeting you all in Crete!

I’m Omar from Egypt.

I had an background in Power And Electrical Machines Engineering.

I’m part of EMINENT Program, looking forward to learning with you all!

I have published multiple research works, including journal and conference papers, and have also gained practical exposure through internships, technical projects, and leadership roles. I was honored as the Valedictorian of my class for outstanding academic performance in last semester, and I have also been actively involved in volunteering and mentoring.

Currently, I am pursuing the EMINENT Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program at Hellenic Mediterranean University in Greece. I aspire to pursue advanced studies and research to contribute to innovative solutions in engineering and technology. I enjoy learning, collaborating with others, and taking on new challenges that help me grow personally and professionally.

My name is Moses Annan. I'm from Ghana.

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from university of Ghana. I worked as a software engineer for about 2 years.

I am looking forward to developing my professional skills and acquiring deeper knowledge in the field embedded systems from the EMINENT programme.

I am excited to embark on this journey and I am happy to be part of this programme.

I am a Telematics Engineer graduated from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico. I worked for more than 2 years in a german company called Bosch as a MES Engineer.

I love traveling, I have been to 18 countries now and also I am really interested in studying abroad, I have studied in Spain, Colombia and now Greece apart from Mexico. I love sharing time with my family and Mexican food.

From the EMINENT program I hope to enhance my technical knowledge in embedded systems and nanotechnology and would also like to improve my presentation and soft skills. Looking forward to learn new skills!!

I’m a studying the first semester of the EMINENT master at HMU. I’m from Mexico.

I have a Bachelor in Nanotechnology Engineering, my passion is mainly innovation and technology applied to the industry and finally I’m still looking at the options for my specialization track.

I want to give a try to the EMINENT program as I feel like it would be a good opportunity to collaborate, learn some more knowledge, see from new perspectives.

I have a technical degree in Mechanical Design and I'm now studying mechanicd and material from an engineer perspectiv.

I like sports (especially rugby), video games and reading manga.

Again, nice to meet you all.

My name is Allan. I grew up in Kenya, East Africa. We are known to have warm people, best safaris, and marathon runners (come visit, life is too short not to...)

I have a background in Mechatronic Engineering, and I am looking forward to my time here in the lovely island of Crete, together with wonderful people from all over the world, while studying for my masters (EMINENT).

Cheers!

Actually, I am so excited for the Eminent master program and I am looking forward to enhance my research skills, network and valuable international experience.

Let’s connect and dive to this new journey!

Academically, I am passionate about electronics, programming, and embedded systems.

Ethnically, I am Jordanian, and I am proud to represent my country in this international program.

Expectations from the Erasmus Program

Through the Erasmus program, I expect to gain new academic and cultural experiences, improve my teamwork and communication skills, and learn from international perspectives in engineering and innovation

I am Marco from Germany. I am good with numbers so my profession is Mechanical Engineering. Before I started studying, a was an mechanic. That’s why I love to repair stuff. I also love to grow vegetables. For sport I love biking, hiking and clinging. I love my hometown Nürnberg but for now I love to travel the world and meet people and see how the world runs in other places.

I look forward to exploring the subjects in the program. Hope to meet you all in the future.

My name is Nemo i'm from France. I'm a mechanical engineering student, i have a degreee in science of materials and caracterisation.

I’m Zahra Motaghi Fard, but close ones usually call me Eli. I’m joining this program from Iran, and I have a background in Materials Science and Engineering.

I’ve always thought of materials as a kind of parallel universe to our own, and I’m excited to explore the engineering branches through this lens. I’m especially interested in nanomaterials and their applications in optoelectronics and energy. My goal is to connect what I know from materials with other areas of engineering.

Being part of the EMINENT program is really exciting for me because it gives me the chance to explore the role of materials across different fields. Joining the big Erasmus family has been a long-time dream, and I hope to make the most of all the opportunities this program offers.

I’m Anastasia. I come from Greece (Heraklion & Rethymno) and I studied Chemistry in UoC. Currently I am pursuing my MSc in Nanotechnology for Energy Applications. I love spectroscopy the most, in ULMNP I studied TAS spectroscopy for my traineeship. I am quite intrigued by how the experimental devices what we use are designed.

Alongside with expanding my scientific knowledge I am open to help any EMINENT student who is new to the town i grew up! I’m very happy to have met you all!! <3

(Unfortunately I struggled a lot to find a “normal” picture of me 😅 this one is from a trip we had in Psiloritis, last month!)

I am incredibly honored and excited to be part of this program. What drew me to it, beyond the academic excellence, is the opportunity to meet and collaborate with people from all over the world, connect with different cultures, and grow both personally and professionally in an international environment.

I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you all and making the most of everything this unique experience has to offer!

My name is Hassan Metwaly from Egypt – the land of civilization and history.

I’m a Demonstrator in the Tourism Department at Mansoura University and a Master’s researcher in Tourism Management.

My motivation for choosing the Erasmus+ Exchange Program is to learn, discover, and exchange experiences with international students and professors.

Firstly, I want to broaden my academic and cultural perspective through studying in Europe.

Secondly, I aim to strengthen my research and language skills.

Finally, I believe Erasmus+ is a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally while representing my country abroad.

Pretty stoked to meet everyone!

My name is Laura and I am a second year Materials Engineering student at NOVA FCT in Portugal. I am looking forward to deepening my knowledge mainly in printed electronics and biomimetic structures and biosensors. I am Portuguese and Dutch and I enjoy traveling and getting to know new people.  

Very excited to be meeting you all in Crete!

Hope to meet you soon in Greece.

I completed my thesis at ULNMP, titled “Interlayer Excitons in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterostructure Alloys.” During my thesis, I worked with PL/PLE spectroscopy and Mechanical Exfoliation techniques to fabricate and study the samples.

I’m particularly interested in solar energy and photovoltaic materials in general. I believe that in a country like Greece, where we have sunshine almost all year round, solar technologies have huge potential and can be used to our advantage both environmentally and economically.

At the same time, I want to deepen my knowledge in semiconductors and 2D materials, and gain a better understanding of their role in energy applications.

Beyond my academic interests, I also speak two languages besides my native language, and I’m also learning Korean as a hobby.

Looking forward to meeting you all in Crete!

my name is Kristian and I am from Germany.

I graduatet my bachelor´s degree in Mechatronics and Precision Enginnering. Since I didnt get the chance to do a Erasmus semester in my bachelor´s I am even more happy to take place in the EMINENT programme to travel around the countrys and learn from different perspectives.

Personally I´m into sports and like to do work on small projects of all kind

Can´t wait to go and meet you in Greece!

I am passionate abt traveling, experiencing different culture, and enjoying local cuisine.

Look forward to seeing u in HMU.

Hello everyone!!

My name is Chiedza Magunje and I am from Zimbabwe. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering. I am excited to be part of the EMINENT program!

And it’s nice to meet you all 😊

I am Alper from Turkiye. I graduated from Istanbul Technichal University with Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication engineering.

I've participated in an Erasmus program once and I can't wait to experience it once more and meet you guys in Crete.

I am Joshua Duha (Josh for short), and I am a new EMINENT student starting in Fall 2026. I am from western Canada, and have lived here all my life. I got my Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Calgary. I currently work as a geomatics engineer at hexagon and have been working as a geomatics and electrical engineer for the last three years. Before coming to Hexagon, I worked in RFIC design for a year at Semtech.

I am deeply interested in physics and technology. I cannot wait to continue my education, and to meet the many other like-minded students in the EMINENT programme. I am looking forward to the hardware and materials focus of many of the courses, gaining research experience, and the chance to experience other cultures and network in a new global environment.

In my personal life, I enjoy travel, learning languages (particularly German and Japanese), cooking, going on casual jogs, and spending time with my wife and our friends.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you and working together!