Alehegn Eskemech
(PhD Scholar, School of Chemical Sciences)
I am Alehegn Eskemech, a Ph.D. scholar at SCS. I am native to Ethiopia. I've come to appreciate the natural beauty around me in my three years at IIT Mandi, a beautiful place at the foot of the Himalayas. At first, getting used to the food was hard, but now I enjoy it and think I will miss Indian food when I leave. I've had the chance to celebrate big festivals like Holi and Diwali, and it was exciting to join in, especially Holi, which I had only seen on TV before. The communication and cultural differences were tough, but I made friends here who helped me feel less lonely. They made my time here special, even though I am far from home. I believe IIT Mandi is the perfect place for research while enjoying its natural beauty.
Addisalem Abebe
(PhD Scholar, School of Chemical Sciences)
My name is Addisalem Abebe, and i am Ethiopian. I am currently pursuing a PhD in organic electrochemistry under the joint supervision of Professor Subrata Ghosh and Prof. Aditi Halder. Since I was accepted into the regular PhD programme at the School of Chemical Sciences, my time at IIT Mandi has been truly enriching. Nestled in the serene Himalayan foothills, the institute offers not only good academic environment but also breathtaking natural beauty. The pleasant weather year-round enhances the experience, making every moment here enjoyable. The rich and diverse local cuisine adds to the charm, with fresh and delicious food options available on campus and in the surrounding areas. Weekend visits to nearby villages and scenic spots have provided me with a deep appreciation for the local culture and the stunning landscape of Himachal Pradesh. Very advanced instrument facilities in chemistry labs, harmonious research environment and enriched lab chemicals and research facilities make our work study very smooth. Overall, IIT Mandi is a place where academic excellence meets the splendour of nature. In any case, my favourite Indian foods are Chapatti and Poha, specifically the Pranthas type. I am so happy to study here for my PhD, though we are away from family. Nature sometimes speaks to us. Good weather and a pleasant stay. Thanks for reading about my experience at IIT Mandi.
Million Mulugeta Habtegbrel
(PhD Candidate,School of Chemical Sciences)
I found IIT Mandi a beautiful place in the footsteps of the himalya mountains, surrounded by so many tourist places places to visit. The campuses (both South and North) are endowed with stunning views and well-equipped with necessary resources. The facilities and academic culture for research and education have been found appealing institutes to join. I am pleased to be part of this ever-growing institute and hope to be an ambassador soon after my PhD tenure. Overall, joining IIT Mandi has been a successful and joyful experience towards achieving my academic goals. It enabled me to learn Indian food and culture and share culture with colleagues and people I met. I hope more international students will join and experience the beauty.
Md Mushfiqur Rahman Chowdhury (D23134)
(PhD Scholar, SCEE, IIT Mandi, Postgraduate – M.Tech VLSI ’22 , SCEE, IIT Mandi,home country: Bangladesh)
I am proud to be the first M.Tech scholar from Bangladesh to join IIT Mandi,
where I was part of the M.Tech-VLSI 2020 batch. Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. at the School of Computing and Electrical Engineering (SCEE).
My time at IIT Mandi has been an enriching experience, offering me numerous opportunities
to grow both academically and personally. As a researcher, I have published several papers and had the chance to work with
cutting-edge technology in my lab. The support from my guide has been outstanding, and it has played a crucial role in my academic achievements.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I actively participated in extracurricular activities,
particularly in sports and music. Since 2022, I have had the honor of winning eight badminton tournaments. I have also represented
the institute as a key player in the Inter IIT Sports Meet, which has been a significant highlight of my journey here. Additionally,
I have performed in several cultural programs and had the privilege of hosting the IIT Mandi Foundation Day 2024 as an anchor. These
experiences have allowed me to build strong connections and friendships with fellow students and faculty members from different schools.
My love for mountains drew me to IIT Mandi, and the serene nature of this place has provided me with more than I ever imagined. The beauty of the campus, coupled with the warmth of the
community, has made my journey here truly memorable. I hope to continue doing well in the future and contribute to this wonderful fraternity.
Prakash Giri (August 2020)
(MTech student at IIT Mandi, Aug. 2018-July 2020, home country: Nepal)
I joined IIT Mandi for a Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering.
The high mountains and rivers surrounding the campus immediately made me feel at home. The friendliness
and hospitality found in the local community of Mandi district was a beautiful experience.
Despite being an international student, I never felt difficulties in coping
up with academic and administrative activities. Being a part of a growing institution had an added advantage
of easy access to Professors, administration and research facilities whilst experiencing a dynamic culture of
colleagues coming from diverse backgrounds. To me, IIT Mandi is a portrayal of scenic beauty combined with academic excellence.
Akayou Adane (February 2020)
(MTech student at IIT Mandi, Aug. 2018-July 2020, home country: Nepal)
Easily one of the best months I had in my life. When I first came to IIT Mandi,
I didn’t know what to expect. Will the students be friendly? Will the food taste good? Will I have a good time doing my internship.
All of these questions lingered in my head until I got here. But after spending a day, I came to understand that the people are one
of the kindest, the food one of the tastiest and the project one of the most fun. I immediately felt at home.
IIT Mandi is one of the most unique Institutes I’ve ever visited.
The mountains around the area make you feel tiny and appreciate nature a little bit more. It’s a good area to go
mountain biking or hiking.But the administration, especially in SRIC, IR, and International Student advisors, are
the kindest and generous people you can find out there. The professors know what they are doing and are ready to help
you whenever you need it. IIT Mandi is a great place to do your internship. You will find the resources, the guidance you need.
Thank you IIT Mandi
Surafel Kindu (February 2020)
(3rd Year Software Engineering Student at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia)
My one month research internship in IIT Mandi is the experience I will always remember.
IIT Mandi is a place that gives the impression of natural beauty and peacefulness as it is surrounded by mountains of
Himalayas. It is a naturally stunning and beautiful place with very friendly and welcoming people.
The Institute director, faculty advisors, International students and relation office staff and everyone
I encountered during my stay in the campus (including in my hostel and mess) were very helpful and friendly. I am very grateful to IIT
Mandi for giving me the opportunity to spend one month and do my research in this amazing place with amazing people. I have learned a lot
both academically and socially from the people I met every day.
Thank you IIT Mandi
Khalid Mohammed (February 2020)
(3rd Year Software Engineering Student, at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia)
My experience at IIT Mandi was an amazing and unforgettable one. From the day I came here everything was awesome.
The people are the most friendly and the place is beautiful.
It's been a good way to explore the world as it was my first time out of Ethiopia.
I have seen how people live, made friends and experienced their culture too. During my
stay I was doing a project under Dr.Aditya Nigam's guidance which was very rewarding because
I have acquired and learned new skills and it gave me hands-on experience I needed. I would like
to thank IIT Mandi for giving me the chance to be an intern. I am grateful and I would like to thank
all the office staff's who helped me and all the students.
Thank you IIT Mandi
Katharina Mengel (March 2018)
(B.Tech student, RWTH Aachen, Germany)
I was planning to do an exchange semester in India for a long time.
While many of the old IIT’s have a better academical reputation and more classes to choose from,
the IIT Mandi was the best choice for me.
Primarily I choose it because of its location and coming here I realized that it was even more beautiful than expected. The nature surrounding the IIT is stunning and invites for long treks.
Furthermore, I was not disappointed by the academics. Classes are small, and everyone is friendly and easy to approach. That also includes the professors and the director.
I always felt welcome in this IIT and I am very thankful for the opportunity. I can definitely recommend coming to the IIT Mandi and doing an exchange semester.
Thank you IIT Mandi
Adrea Meraner (July 2018)
(B.Tech TU Munich , Germany)
IIT Mandi, it's been such a pleasure! From the moment I first arrived in Mandi to the last goodbye, I always felt very welcomed in the campus community.
The many friends I made among the students, and the faculty advisors are always happy to help, and one gets used to the campus life very soon. The campus is in an incredibly quiet place in the middle of green hills, in a perfect location for exploring the surroundings, but also to reach the amazing higher Himalayas as well as the buzzling big cities. The academic activities are very involving, with many labs and projects to directly put in practice the learned theory..
Even if the university is still small, the course offer is wide enough for everybody to find something of interest, comprising also some very good courses in the field of social sciences that are hardly found in European technical universities. Last but not least, the many engaging student clubs and festivals make sure you will enjoy every moment of your stay at IIT Mandi!
Johannes Lucke (August 2018)
(B.Tech , TU Munich , Germany)
IMy exchange semester at IIT Mandi was an amazing experience.
The place is quite isolated in a calm and beautiful valley and people are very friendly and welcoming,
so that I hannes Lucke immediately felt at home there.
lasses are incredibly well organized with small student numbers and very capable staff.
The professors were all very helpful and forthcoming in helping me arrange my course schedule and also whenever I faced a
problem in a subject. On campus, you have a lot of sports facilities and various shops to grab food and drinks at about every
time of the day. On weekends the surrounding area offers various possibilities for hiking and mountain bikes are also available
for rent on campus. I am very thankful to everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible!
Julian Baumgärtel (June 2016)
(B.Tech student, TU Munich,Germany)
I was very excited to come to this place surrounded by nature and mountains and
when I finally arrived almost everything was different than expected, but definitely not for the worse.
The professors, students, faculties, guards, in short everyone gave me a heartfelt
welcome in a way I never would have expected, so I was really grateful to came to this university for my exchange.
Furthermore, the lectures and courses here at IIT Mandi provided an excellent teaching with small classes and close teacher-student interaction.
I can also recommend the practical projects; courses like the ISTP (interactive socio-technical practicum) are a unique feature
from IIT Mandi that gave me an insight into the Indian culture and practical experience by developing a technical solution for an
interesting and important topic: landslides and risk communication in Mandi district.
I can only recommend students to come to IIT Mandi for an exchange semester, particularly if you like a calm and cold environment.
Also you will find one of the best teachings of all engineering universities in India since this college doesn't have such a high
number of enrolled students compared to other IITs in India.
Zipporah Wanjiku (July 2016)
(PhD student, Universtiy of Nairobi, Kenya)
My name is Zipporah Wanjiku from Kenya. I am currently pursuing my PhD studies
in Physics under a sandwich program between UoN, Kenya and IIT, Mandi, courtesy of OWSD.
At IIT, Mandi, I found all that I was looking for academically.
The state of the art research labs in this academic haven tucked in a picturesque environment, with
the breathtaking view of the Himalayas in the background not to mention the knowledgeable and very helpful
faculty made it possible for me to achieve quite a feat, well beyond my own expectations.
The warmth and the hospitality of IIT, Mandi community will remain etched in my memory. I thank God for granting me the opportunity to spend time and carry out research in this prestigious Institution.
