Please, introduce yourself.My name is Martin ZAFIROV and I come from a small Balkan country recently renamed the Republic of North Macedonia. After finishing high school in my hometown, I got accepted in France on a Bachelor’s program in Mechanical Engineering in Lyon and immediately upon finishing, I enrolled on this Master’s Program.
What drove you to choose this Master’s and how did you hear about it?
As mechanical engineering did not quite suit me, I started looking for different directions and paths, and since I prefer the English language, I stumbled on this Master’s program which met my criteria and fortunately I met theirs.
In your opinion, what are the main strengths of the Génie industriel Master’s program?
I strongly believe in the importance of internationality in the workplace, as companies prefer and encourage diversity. Additionally, the future of industry lies in the implementation of sustainability, and this program provides its students with the necessary knowledge to apply sustainable engineering in their careers.
What is the most challenging course or project you have had so far?
Most definitely the collaborative design project. Since it’s a group project, in my case with a team of 6 members, and with quite a challenging topic. We worked on a real scenario for a real client with needs for a mechanical prosthetic finger. The technicalities of the project were demanding in themselves, but on top of that the management of tasks and meetings gave me the opportunity to learn how to rely on and trust in the capabilities of the members of the team.
How will this Master’s help you achieve your career goals?
For starters, it will give me the education and diploma required to apply for higher-level positions. With the introduction to production and operations management with Lean Manufacturing methods, accompanied by a sustainability mindset, I certainly hope it will guide me towards careers of so-called continuous improvement and management of processes in a variety of industries and domains.
What do you think about the way of life in Grenoble and its area?
It seems very well-suited for students, quite small but offers everything a student might need, from a range of student accommodation to cheap food on every corner.
What did you find the most striking since you started living here?
At the time of my studies in Lyon, I had thoughts that Paris was way too much, and Lyon was actually perfect for living, but since I arrived in Grenoble, I started thinking that maybe even Lyon was too much, but hey that’s just me.
What advice would you give to a student from your country who would like to come and study here?
Well, it depends on their domain of studies, but I cannot stress enough the importance of the choice of domain. Whatever you choose, choose according to your abilities and interests. In a nutshell, do your research and choose wisely!
Martin Zafirov, student in Sustainable Industrial Engineering Master’s, First Year (2020-2021), Grenoble INP - Génie industriel, UGA