International HSE MIEM Graduates Reflect on Their Journey into Engineering Careers
Every year, the master's programmes at the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (HSE MIEM) attract a large number of students from Africa and the Middle East. Each of them follows a unique path towards becoming an engineering professional. Ahead of receiving their degrees, several graduates shared their personal stories about how they chose their profession and what they learned during their time at HSE.
Mihaja Rakotonindrainy (Madagascar), Master’s in Computer Systems and Networks
‘Giving Up Was Never an Option’
Mihaja Rakotonindrainy came to HSE MIEM from the Republic of Madagascar, choosing the institute because of its strong project-based approach to education. ‘Students do much more than attend lectures—they work with real equipment and build fully functional systems,’ the graduate said. ‘In engineering, genuine experience can only be gained through hands-on development.’
During his studies, he took part in two major projects: the development of an automated control system for an autonomous vehicle (CarMIEM) and an IoT-based distributed weather station. ‘The main challenge was power management. In an autonomous system, every watt-hour has to be allocated efficiently between computing, communications, and sensors. At the same time, you have to optimise the cost of components, which is an essential part of real-world engineering,’ he explained.
One of the greatest challenges he faced was the language barrier. ‘Once you have made the decision to move thousands of kilometres away from home, giving up is no longer an option. Studying complex engineering subjects while learning Russian at the same time was far from easy, but I saw every difficulty as another step towards my goal,’ Mihaja recalled.
He also demonstrated an engineer's practical mindset when it came to optimising the project's budget. ‘We used simpler, less expensive components and achieved the required results through additional equipment calibration and software improvements,’ the graduate explained. ‘A good engineer looks not only for the most advanced solution but also for the most rational one. Innovation often comes from the ability to achieve more with fewer resources.’
Makoundou Mayala Prince Amour (Republic of the Congo), Master’s in Computer Systems and Networks
‘Treat Your Lecturers as Mentors, Not Opponents’
Prince came to Russia from the Republic of the Congo. He explained his choice of master's programme as follows: ‘I was looking for a focused programme dedicated entirely to computer science and engineering, without being combined with economics modules. HSE MIEM matched exactly what I was looking for. It combines high academic standards with an open and supportive teaching staff.’
As part of the institute's project-based learning, he contributed to the development of the DACKEL tracked robotic platform. His work included 3D modelling, mechanical assembly, and the implementation of control systems using ESP32 and ROS technologies.
The journey towards graduation and adapting to life in a new country proved challenging. Prince recalled that during the most difficult period of his studies he faced serious financial difficulties and anxiety about an uncertain future. His determination to support his family and make his parents proud eventually led to severe emotional burnout. His concentration declined, and at one point his goals seemed impossible to achieve.
‘To overcome it, I had to go back to basics: break major goals into small, achievable steps, establish a simple routine of sleep, breaks, and walks, and, most importantly, start talking openly about how I felt,’ the graduate said. In his view, MIEM's lecturers played a decisive role in helping him regain his balance. Alongside academic support, they showed genuine compassion by extending assignment deadlines, providing additional guidance, and offering moral support. Knowing that there were people willing to devote their time to helping him gave him the motivation to continue his studies. Prince also credits his girlfriend with providing invaluable support in dealing with everyday and administrative matters. She helped him settle into life in Moscow and became his main source of encouragement far from home. He also adapted by immersing himself in Russian culture. A visit to St Petersburg left a particularly strong impression on him: its architecture and atmosphere helped restore his peace of mind. He also developed a fondness for traditional Russian shchi—a simple yet hearty cabbage soup that became his favourite meal on cool Moscow evenings.
Prince offered the following advice to future students: ‘Treat your lecturers as mentors, not as opponents. They may be highly demanding, but they are always on the students' side and genuinely want them to succeed. Success is not always a straight line, but with the right support, any crisis can become an opportunity for growth.’
Kano Tsengui Guitchoua Wilfried (Cameroon), Master’s in Applied Electronics and Photonics
‘Turning Knowledge into Real Engineering Solutions’
Kano came to HSE MIEM from Cameroon after completing his bachelor's degree at Ryazan State Radio Engineering University. His decision to pursue a master's degree at MIEM was driven by the institute's advanced technical facilities and the strong integration of research into the educational process.
His master's thesis focuses on the development of an acoustic positioning system based on the Doppler effect. The hardware and software platform, built around an ESP32 microcontroller and an array of MEMS microphones, employs digital signal processing techniques, including FFT analysis, the GCC-PHAT algorithm, and a Kalman filter. The system is capable of determining an object's direction of movement and speed in environments where satellite navigation is unavailable. ‘I greatly appreciate the professionalism of MIEM's lecturers and their willingness to support students in developing their own ideas,’ the graduate said.
Alashhab Roshdi Mazin Roshdi (Jordan), Master’s in Computer Systems and Networks
‘The Project Allowed Me to Apply My Knowledge in an Interdisciplinary Team’
Alashhab came to HSE MIEM from Jordan. After learning about the opportunity to study in Russia on a Russian government scholarship, he chose MIEM because of its strong engineering education and the abundance of practical projects. As part of the institute's project-based learning, he worked on the Gryadun project—a ground-based robotic system designed for greenhouse navigation using computer vision technologies. Alashhab developed a software stack based on Python and OpenCV for image analysis and decision-making algorithms.
‘The project gave me the opportunity to apply my knowledge in an interdisciplinary team where software and hardware development had to be carefully coordinated,’ the graduate noted.
He also highlighted the university's welcoming international environment, where students from different countries can exchange knowledge, ideas and experiences.
Mahmoud Alshehadi (Syria), Master’s in Computer Systems and Networks
‘I Gained Technical Knowledge, Planning Skills, and a Sense of Responsibility’
Mahmoud came to MIEM HSE from Syria and was also part of the team working on the Gryadun robotic platform. While Alashhab was responsible for the software, Mahmoud took charge of the hardware. He assembled the platform, connected the electronic components, and configured the control system. For him, it was a new and highly valuable experience. Working on the project helped him improve his teamwork skills, tackle practical engineering challenges, and see how theoretical knowledge can be transformed into real engineering solutions.
‘We were constantly discussing ideas, dividing responsibilities, and overcoming challenges together. This approach helped me develop not only technical expertise but also planning skills and a strong sense of responsibility,’ Mahmoud said.
He also highlighted the willingness of MIEM's lecturers and academic supervisors to support students and provide valuable guidance throughout every stage of the development process.
Mohamed Mostafa Adel Abo Elmagd (Egypt), Master’s in Computer Systems and Networks
‘It is a Fully-Fledged Product Ready for Use in the Agricultural Sector’
Mostafa came to HSE MIEM from Egypt to deepen his knowledge of computer science and gain experience in an international academic environment. For his master's thesis, he developed Fields of Egypt, an information and analytical system designed to analyse satellite imagery of agricultural land using computer vision techniques.
‘We work with multispectral Sentinel-2 and Landsat satellite images. The system identifies centre-pivot irrigation fields, calculates their geometric parameters, and displays agroeconomic indicators on an interactive web map. It is a fully-fledged product that could be implemented in the agricultural sector,’ Mostafa explained.
The graduate expressed his sincere gratitude to his academic supervisor, Hlib Nekrasov, for helping him design the system architecture while taking both technical and economic considerations into account. Mostafa also believes there is significant potential for strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between MIEM and other HSE faculties in order to develop integrated solutions for the agricultural sector.
Jacques Houndjetode (Côte d'Ivoire), Master’s in Applied Electronics and Photonics
‘Effective Collaboration Between Students, Academic Supervisors, and Industry Partners’
Jacques came to HSE MIEM from Côte d'Ivoire. ‘MIEM's Project Management Centre provides effective collaboration between students, academic supervisors, and industry partners,’ the graduate said. His previous education had been largely theory-based, but at MIEM he saw how theoretical knowledge could be applied to solve real engineering problems. His academic supervisor, Hlib Nekrasov, played a key role in helping him adapt. His professionalism and patience enabled the international student to become involved in project work more quickly and develop the ability to find solutions independently.
Looking Ahead: Developing a Systems Engineering Mindset
When reflecting on their time at HSE MIEM, the graduates reached the same conclusion: the institute provided them with far more than technical expertise—it taught them to think like engineers.
‘Now I know how to take an idea, confront it with real-world constraints, refine it through iteration, and turn it into a working product,’ Mihaja Rakotonindrainy concluded.
We wish all of the graduates every success in the global high-tech industry and hope that the knowledge, experience, and engineering culture they acquired at HSE MIEM will provide a solid foundation for their future professional careers.
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