Among the 23 students was the 200th graduate from the MADE program, making the occasion even more special. The ceremony took place at the AMS building on Marineterrein. One graduate, Sophie Bakker, participated online, currently on a hike crossing the entire length of New Zealand. No excuse is too big to skip this important milestone.
Academic and personal journeys
Every graduate received a personal speech, showcasing a mix of presentations from supervisors, professors, study assistants, and friends. There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and even a few tears as the speeches reflected on the graduates’ academic and personal journeys.
The MADE IT Study Association delivered a heartwarming speech, accompanied by photos capturing moments from the graduates' time at MADE. The images included graduates sharing meals, showcasing their Halloween costumes, and enjoying their study trip to Istanbul, a highlight for many. After congratulating the graduates, the Alumni board encouraged students to stay connected with the MADE community and distributed gifts to commemorate the occasion.
Looking back on the highlights
23 graduates accepted their diplomas and left the building as freshly appointed urban engineers. Jacob Zackrzewicz reflects on his time at MADE: “Being in the Netherlands was the biggest highlight of my time as a MADE student. Traveling to every random city I could has been great fun. Seeing the infrastructure, the dikes, the hydraulic structures like the Maeslantkering, the windmills, the bicycle paths, the beautiful roads with high-end pavement quality, and experiencing public transport issues with NS and ProRail firsthand—it all felt like living inside the systems I’ve always been passionate about. What a playground for a civil engineer this country is, and I had a lot of fun—and still do—playing in it.”
He continues: “The public transport connectivity, the water infrastructure, everything about how this country is built just fascinates me. But beyond that, the people here are so interesting and different to be around, and living the Dutch lifestyle has been a highlight to this day. Sometimes, I just stop and think about how thankful I am to be here—and sometimes I still can’t believe it actually happened.”
Daphe Paza reflects on the learning methods in the MADE program: “Learning from my peers. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allowed me to gain new insights from different fields and broaden my perspective on sustainable urban development. Also, we had to do a lot of group work so collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds enriched my learning experience and challenged me to think in new ways.”
Pearl Yeh continues by explaining group work with other students: “Being able to meet people from different countries with their own beliefs and make close bonds with them by working together and sharing food, tastes, ideas, and experiences at the lunch table turned us into a MADE family. The group work created sparks and inspired true understanding with people I had never worked with. The fights that we fought together and becoming best friends is something I really cherish in this unique working process.”
“Collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds enriched my learning experience and challenged me to think in new ways.”
Daphe Paza, MSc MADE alumni
MSc MADE program
The MSc MADE program (Metropolitan Analysis, Design, and Engineering) focuses on our cities and metropolitan regions facing sustainability challenges and quality of life in a fast-urbanizing world. Over the course of two years, students develop into metropolitan innovators with creative and collaborative mindsets. MSc MADE students receive their joint degree from Wageningen University & Research and TU Delft during the graduation ceremony at AMS Institute.
“The group work created sparks and inspired true understanding with people I had never worked with. The fights that we fought together, and becoming best friends, was something I really cherished in this unique working process.”
Pearl Yeh, MSc MADE alumni
Leaving a mark on the Alumni Map
Afterwards, the students were invited to leave their mark on the Alumni Map, a tradition among MADE graduates. They choese a spot on the map of Amsterdam that is meaningful to them and marked it with a pin. This map is then proudly displayed at the AMS office.
Here’s to the next adventure—congratulations, graduates! Your future is bright!
“Sometimes, I just stop and think about how thankful I am to be here—and sometimes I still can’t believe it actually happened.”