International through and through

Until the age of seventeen, Polish-born Jadwiga Poniatowska says she followed a standard path. ‘But I have always been ambitious when it comes to learning and challenging myself,’ she says. ‘At secondary school I applied for the United World Colleges/Polish Scholarship Scheme programme.’ She was selected and received a scholarship to attend an international secondary school in Vienna for two years.

Traditions

After Vienna – ‘My German isn’t good enough to study there’ – she chose the University of Edinburgh, where she found herself in a highly international environment. With her master’s degree in hand, she decided to continue her (academic) journey. ‘I looked at various research groups in the field of sustainable materials, and TU Eindhoven seemed the best fit for me.’

She noticed significant differences between Eindhoven and Edinburgh in terms of academic focus and teaching style. ‘Eindhoven is much more oriented towards innovation and current issues, and tries to address them in new, modern ways,’ Poniatowska explains. ‘Edinburgh, on the other hand, is an incredibly old institution, with far more tradition, which also influences the way chemistry is taught.’ She appreciates both the more fundamental perspective in Edinburgh and the application-driven approach in Eindhoven. Both institutions offer a welcoming, international atmosphere. ‘Personally, I have always felt involved and happy. You learn a great deal about other cultures whilst carrying your own traditions with you.’

Moving

The most challenging aspect of all her travels has been the moving. ‘It’s a fantastic way to broaden your horizons, but it’s also quite exhausting.’ She feels that moving is rather romanticised. ‘Filing tax returns in different countries, finding accommodation, cramming your entire life into a few suitcases… It’s not all roses.’

‘You learn a great deal about other cultures whilst carrying your own traditions with you’

What is wonderful, she says with a smile, are the people you meet. ‘If you always stay in one place, your outlook remains very limited. We learn a great deal through diversity. It’s been wonderful to have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and to learn how they navigate their way through life, especially in the current political climate. Through good collaboration you can learn so much.’ And of course, one mustn’t forget all those half-finished Duolingo courses and the attempts to teach others Polish. ‘Having friends abroad also means you always have somewhere to stay when you go on holiday!’

Poniatowska recently bought a flat in Eindhoven. ‘I really enjoy my life here and the field I work in. I don’t yet know exactly how my career will develop, but there are plenty of opportunities.’ She feels at home and doesn’t particularly miss her home country. ‘I’ve discovered that at heart I’m also international. I attach more importance to people and experiences than to anything specific about a particular country.’