RESCO’s First Cohort Meet at BME

The first cohort of the RESCO Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme has officially begun its studies. After the first weeks of the semester, almost all students have arrived in Budapest, with the remaining participants on their way following longer visa procedures. To mark this important milestone, BME hosted the first in-person gathering bringing together RESCO students and representatives of the consortium’s academic partners.

RESCO (Renewable Energy and Sustainable Construction) programme is a two-year, 120 ECTS-credit Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree that prepares students for careers at the intersection of renewable energy systems and sustainable construction. Students study at several European universities in different countries: fhe first semester is spent at BME, the second at either the University of A Coruña in Spain or the University of Minho in Portugal, and the third in France at INSA Rouen Normandie. The fourth semester consists of a 4–6-month international internship and a master’s thesis.

A distinctive feature of the programme is that graduates earn four master’s degrees from four European countries.

At the event, academic coordinators welcomed the students – coming from different parts of the world with diverse academic and professional backgrounds – and they also introduced themselves. They shared their first-hand experiences about any challenges faced before and after arrival, and made suggestions regarding what kind of information or additional support may be useful for future cohorts. At BME, a dedicated member of the International Mentor Team (IMT) supports the RESCO students, while practical information for international students is collected on the IMT website.

The programme also offered an opportunity to discover the BME campus. The students visited the BME Library, including the underground storage and the historic steel-and-glass structure. The latter was a particularly fitting sight for a cohort with civil engineering background. The tour introduced further university facilities and a few unexpected features of BME, including its operating nuclear research reactor.

Alongside the student activities, the consortium partners held working meetings to discuss the questions raised and coordinate preparations and tasks for the upcoming semesters.

Rector’s Office, Communications Directorate