« A look back at our EMIMEP students’ participation in European Microwave Week 2026 held at Excel London from 4 to 9 October – a major event for the European microwave community. From scientific conferences to professional networking opportunities, they share their experiences and impressions here.

Participating in EuMW 2026 was an incredibly valuable and memorable experience for me, both academically and professionally. As an Erasmus Mundus EMIMEP scholar pursuing a master’s degree in Microwave Electronics and Photonics, attending one of Europe’s leading events in microwave, RF, wireless, and radar engineering was a wonderful opportunity to connect my academic knowledge with the latest developments in industry and research.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my participation was volunteering at the event. Being part of the team responsible for supporting such a major international technical event allowed me to experience EuMW from a different perspective. It helped me develop my communication, teamwork, coordination, and interpersonal skills while contributing to an event that brought together researchers, academics, engineers, and industry professionals from across the world. Especially working under the supervision of the Volunteer Chairperson Mr James and Ms Priya was a great learning experience.

Beyond volunteering, I had the opportunity to attend technical seminars and explore exhibitions featuring multinational companies and leading organisations in the microwave and RF industry. Discovering their technologies, applications, and ongoing developments gave me a broader understanding of how microwave engineering contributes to modern communication systems.

The technical exposure was particularly valuable. I gained practical insights through hands-on experiences and demonstrations involving Keysight technologies and RF antennas. These experiences helped me better understand the practical applications of concepts that we study during our master’s programme and appreciate the importance of precise measurements, testing, and validation in RF and microwave engineering.

Another highlight was the opportunity to interact with professors, researchers, and engineers from different countries and professional backgrounds. These conversations allowed me to exchange ideas, learn about different research directions, and gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of microwave electronics and photonics.

I also appreciated the opportunity to attend educational sessions and engage with the wider microwave engineering community. The experience demonstrated how important collaboration between universities, research institutions, and industry is in translating scientific knowledge into practical technological solutions. It was particularly motivating to see how developments in RF engineering, antennas, high-frequency electronics, and communication technologies are connected to real-world applications.

As an international student studying in Europe, this experience meant much more to me than simply attending a conference. It was an opportunity to represent my academic journey, broaden my professional network, learn beyond the classroom, and gain first-hand exposure to the international engineering community.

I would also like to express my appreciation to the EMIMEP programme and its coordinators for the opportunities that support our academic and professional growth.

Overall, EuMW 2026 was an outstanding learning experience that combined volunteering, technical exploration, professional networking, and personal development. »

Irsa Jan, EMIMEP student (Pakistan)

« EUMW was, for me, a moment when the digital world suddenly became real.

We live surrounded by profiles, names and ideas on screens,  people we discover through Coursera, LinkedIn or other online communities, sometimes without ever imagining that we could actually meet them. During EUMW, some of those names became faces, conversations and, most importantly, genuine connections.

Beyond the intensive programme and the volunteering experience, what I will remember most is this human dimension: exchanging perspectives with people from different backgrounds, learning from them and discovering how a simple conversation can open a door to a completely different way of thinking.

EUMW reminded me that networking is not about how many contacts you collect, but about the people you connect with and the conversations that stay with you afterwards.

I came for the experience, but I left with something much more valuable: new perspectives, meaningful connections and people I’m glad are no longer just names on a screen. »

Adrae El Amri, EMIMEP student (Morocco)