Dhavissen Narayen

Dhavissen Narayen

A first international AES graduate: A student from Paradise Island

In July 2008 Dhavissen Narayen first set foot on Dutch soil for a family vacation. Little did he know that nine years later he would be one of the first two international graduates of the Applied Earth Sciences (AES) bachelor at the TU Delft.

From Mauritius to TU Delft

“Coming from Mauritius, people often ask me why I left such a paradise island. The answer is: to study Earth Sciences. I also have family here so that gave me the opportunity to accommodate quite fast.”

Dhavissen was passionate about petroleum engineering and was looking for a good university to follow this passion. “Most bachelors in petroleum engineering are already very fixed on petroleum, what I liked about TU Delft is that the bachelor is very broad and can open doors to other master tracks.”

Dhavissen enjoys the pure science of AES, but what he loves most is the application. “I am not someone to sit behind the computer all day, I like to encounter people.” During the AES bachelor the students take part in two big fieldwork trips. “In France we went around on mountain bikes to do the fieldwork because we did not have a driver and we found an actual fossil. It was a real adventure.” He broadened his scope even more by choosing the Deltadenker minor. “Here I got to know the water works and the Dutch skills in also water treatment which I really liked.”

The courses were not the only place where Dhavissen learned in Delft. “I learned to live completely independent. In Mauritius everyone lives with their family until they graduate. In Delft I decided to live on my own straight away because it is the best way to get to know the student life and culture.”

Beyond studying

And that he did, Dhavissen is one of the few international students who completely penetrated a Dutch study association. “At first it was hard to mingle with the Dutch students as they had already bonded during the OWEE and the introduction weekend while we had joined the international introduction week. It would help if the international bachelor students get invited to the Dutch introduction weekend. It got easier in my second year, partly because I learned some Dutch. This was also when I also got my dasje at the Mijnbouwkundige Vereeniging.”

At the Mijnbouwkundige Vereeniging he joined the promotion committee, going to Dutch schools to promote AES and organizing shadowing days for prospective students. “It was a great way to get to know another part of the culture of the Netherlands, you end up in places you would never go as an international student, for instance Gorinchem.” But he does not solely explore off the beaten track Dutch experiences: “Last year I went to the carnival in Tilburg.”

Last year Dhavissen also joined the Faculty student council (FSR). He speaks enthusiastically of the things they accomplished, for example the silent study places on the first floor. “I learned a great deal about the things that are going on in the faculty. I would recommend all international students to find something to do next to their studies, only studying is a bit boring.” Dhavissen is the perfect example of someone who knows how to combine extracurricular activities with studies, even though he joined committees he still managed to finish his bachelor in three years. “International students often don’t join committees because they are afraid it will delay their studies, but as long as you plan well there is nothing to worry about.”

What’s next?

That leaves us with the question: what’s next? “I started the Environmental Engineering master program and I will probably join a committee with the Dispuut.” Incidentally this is again a new study program, going into its second year this year. “During my bachelor thesis and my minor I got very interested in recycling and the Dutch water expertise, this brought me to environmental engineering. I am mostly looking forward to the chemistry and recycling courses and their application. In the Dispuut they make their own beer from waste water, that might be a fun committee to join.” Dhavissen is not sure yet what master specialization he wants to follow, only that he wants his future career to be internationally oriented. “Who knows I might even end up in the petroleum industry, environmental engineers are needed even there.”