Combative Academic Career

Axel Degrande (26) completed his vocational secondary education [bso – beroepssecundair onderwijs, broadly equivalent to vocational qualifications at secondary level, ed.], went on to study electromechanics at university of applied sciences, then completed a Master’s in Industrial Sciences, and is now a PhD student. ‘I’m building a medical robot that repositions the lower body inside a CT scanner,’ Degrande explains. ‘Alongside the theoretical side, I work a lot with my hands – just like I did during my vocational training. As a researcher, I’m right at the cutting edge of the latest technology, which is incredibly exciting.’

The hardest period

By his own admission, Degrande used to be ‘the worst’ in his class. ‘I was a troublemaker and never did my homework. It didn’t interest me. I wasn’t being challenged.’ At university of applied sciences, he suddenly had to start cramming. ‘I actually found that quite exciting. My biggest fear was mathematics – and that fear turned out to be entirely justified.’ He laughs. ‘During the very first lesson, the lecturer wrote an equation on the board. “Find X,” he said. Confused, I turned to my classmate and asked: “But X is right there on the board, isn’t it? Is it some kind of multiplication sign?” I had never seen an equation before!’

Degrande caught up on his backlog through extra lessons and educational YouTube videos. ‘It turned out I was actually good at mathematics.’ He began to wonder whether he could manage university. ‘I wanted to be certain first that it wasn’t just about the qualifications for me. So I stepped out of my comfort zone by choosing the most theoretical graduation project I could find.’ He enjoyed it, and decided to go for it. ‘I’d been warned about the bridging programme between the university of applied sciences and the Master’s – that it would be extremely demanding.’ That proved to be true. ‘It was the hardest period of my life. I was enormously stressed and overworked.’ But Degrande’s combative nature reasserted itself and he completed the programme.

‘I stepped out of my comfort zone by choosing the most theoretical graduation project I could find’

A unique journey

Once at university, he could breathe again. ‘I started seeing my friends again and could go out to the pub.’ Nevertheless, Degrande still feels the after-effects of his bridging year. He can no longer write properly. ‘Back then, I studied by writing everything down. That was how I retained the material. Now, the moment I pick up a pen, my hand shakes terribly.’ There is a whiteboard in Degrande’s workspace. ‘With a thick marker, writing still works well enough.’

The researcher tells his story from Thailand, where he is backpacking with his girlfriend. She comes over to join him briefly. ‘We’ve been together for seven years, so I’ve been there for every step of it. Axel has always kept following his passion.’ Degrande sometimes forgets just how unique his academic journey really is. ‘When I received my Master’s degree, the dean told my entire story to a lecture hall of a thousand people. Suddenly I realised everything I had actually achieved. I was nearly in tears.’