Education

Veni vidi vici

Fardad Zand has certainly made the most of his two and a half years at TU Delft. The Iranian student was recently awarded the 2006 Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization in recognition of his outstanding contributions as an MSc student to the TU’s internationalization process.

Zand is now pursuing a PhD degree at the TPM Faculty.

There are many shining examples of studnets who are making outstanding contributions to TU Delft’s internationalisation process, but in the past few years none have shone brighter than Iranian foreign student Fardad Zand, the winner of the ‘2006 Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization’.

The was the third time this award has been given to a talented foreign student who not only performed well academically but also played an important role in the internationalization process.

Zand, who has been in Holland for two and half years, recently graduated cum laude from the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management’s MSc Management of Technology (MoT) degree program.

Outside of the classroom, Zand distinguised himself by becoming totally immersed in the university’s international student affairs, serving on various commitites and earning the distinction of being the first foreign student selected as a member of the Faculty Student Council. For this and his particaption in many other faculty and interfaculty groups, Zand was awarded the 2006 Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization.
In Iran

Zand’s tale of academic achievement began early in his life in Iran, where, at age 12, he was one of the elite few selected to participate in the prestigious National Organization of Development of Exceptional Talent (Nodet). At 16, he earned his high school diploma with exceptionally high grades and qualified to attend the Iranian university of his choice.

“At that age,” Zand says, “I was determined to be the best, and achieve the highest.” However, before deciding which university to attend, he took a year off to travel, visiting many countries around the world, including the Netherlands and United States.

Zand however eventually decided to attend university in Iran, in order to stay close to his family. He enrolled at the Tehran Polytechnic Institute, majoring in polymer engineering. But after nearly three years in that major, he realized that chemistry wasn’t challenging his curiosity enough, and that he wanted to complete another major.

Zand convinced the universtiy’s admission board to allow him to pursue a second major in computer science, under the condition that he wouldn’t take more than six years to complete both degrees. He didn’t: Zand graduated cum laude and won Tehran Polytechnic Institute’s ‘Outstanding Academic Achievements Award’ for being the first student to complete a double Bachelor’s degree with excellent grades.

With two BSc degrees to his name, Zand knew he wanted to remain in the field of technology, but he also wanted be involved in management. He therefore enrolled in a program that would allow for this: TU Delft’s MSc Management of Technology (MoT) degree program. Zand: “I had been to Holland many times before. I like the Dutch people and I like the culture: it’s very open.”

At Delft, Zand’s Master’s thesis was entitled ‘Interorganisational relationships and information technology: An empirical analysis’. He looked at the productivity paradox in the context of inter-organizational relationships.

“Many companies invest a lot in IT,” Zand says, “but the influence on productivity is not strong or positive. It helps companies boost productivity and reduce costs, but one of the best ways to boost production is to use IT for inter-company partnerships.”
Internationalization

Zand’s realization that he wanted to make a difference outside of the TU classroom as well occurred shortly after arriving in Delft and moving into his Space Box room . or, as he derisively named his room: “matchbox 20”.

“At different ages, you get different utility functions,” he says. “When I was young, the highest grade was my aim. As you get older, you become interested in other things. I wasn’t only interested in achieving the best grades at the TU, but also in making a difference.”

And make a difference he has, as the Rector’s Prize recognizes. Zand participated in the Workgroup International Students (WIS), which helps promote the integration of foreign MSc students in Delft. He was a member of the Faculty Student Council, a member of MoT’s MSc Education Committee and of the College Response Group 2004-2006, and an ambassador for the MoT degree program in contacts with potential foreign students.

The fact that Zand was involved in so many different groups made him a key figure, as he served as a link between the various associations that had previously operated independently of each other. Zand admits that being an overachiever has impacted his social life. For the past two years he hasn’t had as much free time to travel, snowboard or play tennis as he would’ve liked. “But in the end,” he says, “it was all worth it.”

Zand is currently working on his PhD degree at the TPM faculty. The Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization is one of TU Delft’s most prestigious awards and one coveted by many foreign students. Zand’s advice to students hoping to follow in his footsteps and win the Rector’s Prize is simple: “With an eye toward winning that prize, you’ve got to be really active, open-minded and of course internationally oriented.”

Fardad Zand (Photo: Sam Rentmeester/FMAX)

There are many shining examples of studnets who are making outstanding contributions to TU Delft’s internationalisation process, but in the past few years none have shone brighter than Iranian foreign student Fardad Zand, the winner of the ‘2006 Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization’.

The was the third time this award has been given to a talented foreign student who not only performed well academically but also played an important role in the internationalization process.

Zand, who has been in Holland for two and half years, recently graduated cum laude from the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management’s MSc Management of Technology (MoT) degree program.

Outside of the classroom, Zand distinguised himself by becoming totally immersed in the university’s international student affairs, serving on various commitites and earning the distinction of being the first foreign student selected as a member of the Faculty Student Council. For this and his particaption in many other faculty and interfaculty groups, Zand was awarded the 2006 Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization.
In Iran

Zand’s tale of academic achievement began early in his life in Iran, where, at age 12, he was one of the elite few selected to participate in the prestigious National Organization of Development of Exceptional Talent (Nodet). At 16, he earned his high school diploma with exceptionally high grades and qualified to attend the Iranian university of his choice.

“At that age,” Zand says, “I was determined to be the best, and achieve the highest.” However, before deciding which university to attend, he took a year off to travel, visiting many countries around the world, including the Netherlands and United States.

Zand however eventually decided to attend university in Iran, in order to stay close to his family. He enrolled at the Tehran Polytechnic Institute, majoring in polymer engineering. But after nearly three years in that major, he realized that chemistry wasn’t challenging his curiosity enough, and that he wanted to complete another major.

Zand convinced the universtiy’s admission board to allow him to pursue a second major in computer science, under the condition that he wouldn’t take more than six years to complete both degrees. He didn’t: Zand graduated cum laude and won Tehran Polytechnic Institute’s ‘Outstanding Academic Achievements Award’ for being the first student to complete a double Bachelor’s degree with excellent grades.

With two BSc degrees to his name, Zand knew he wanted to remain in the field of technology, but he also wanted be involved in management. He therefore enrolled in a program that would allow for this: TU Delft’s MSc Management of Technology (MoT) degree program. Zand: “I had been to Holland many times before. I like the Dutch people and I like the culture: it’s very open.”

At Delft, Zand’s Master’s thesis was entitled ‘Interorganisational relationships and information technology: An empirical analysis’. He looked at the productivity paradox in the context of inter-organizational relationships.

“Many companies invest a lot in IT,” Zand says, “but the influence on productivity is not strong or positive. It helps companies boost productivity and reduce costs, but one of the best ways to boost production is to use IT for inter-company partnerships.”
Internationalization

Zand’s realization that he wanted to make a difference outside of the TU classroom as well occurred shortly after arriving in Delft and moving into his Space Box room . or, as he derisively named his room: “matchbox 20”.

“At different ages, you get different utility functions,” he says. “When I was young, the highest grade was my aim. As you get older, you become interested in other things. I wasn’t only interested in achieving the best grades at the TU, but also in making a difference.”

And make a difference he has, as the Rector’s Prize recognizes. Zand participated in the Workgroup International Students (WIS), which helps promote the integration of foreign MSc students in Delft. He was a member of the Faculty Student Council, a member of MoT’s MSc Education Committee and of the College Response Group 2004-2006, and an ambassador for the MoT degree program in contacts with potential foreign students.

The fact that Zand was involved in so many different groups made him a key figure, as he served as a link between the various associations that had previously operated independently of each other. Zand admits that being an overachiever has impacted his social life. For the past two years he hasn’t had as much free time to travel, snowboard or play tennis as he would’ve liked. “But in the end,” he says, “it was all worth it.”

Zand is currently working on his PhD degree at the TPM faculty. The Rector’s Student Prize for Internationalization is one of TU Delft’s most prestigious awards and one coveted by many foreign students. Zand’s advice to students hoping to follow in his footsteps and win the Rector’s Prize is simple: “With an eye toward winning that prize, you’ve got to be really active, open-minded and of course internationally oriented.”

Fardad Zand (Photo: Sam Rentmeester/FMAX)

Editor Redactie

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