Student Exchange

My exchange semester at NTNU in Gjøvik, Norway, was a thrilling winter adventure. This unforgettable research journey helped me boost my research skills. I devoted most of my time to research, which provided me with significant exposure. During this time, I also embraced Norwegian culture, traditions, language, and academic life at NTNU. This exchange opportunity was not just about academic growth; it was a great experience that enriched my life. I am grateful to NORPART-CONNECT and SUKKUR IBA UNIVERSITY for providing me with this life-changing opportunity, which has profoundly impacted my personal and professional growth.

I am Atiqa Aiman, an exchange student at NTNU in Norway. This exchange experience significantly enhanced my research skills and provided valuable international exposure. I dedicated a lot of time to my research, which was instrumental in my growth. I also appreciated Norwegian culture and traditions. This exchange was not only about academic development but also a rewarding experience that enriched my life through visiting new places and meeting new people. I am grateful to NORPART-CONNECT and SUKKUR IBA UNIVERSITY for giving me this valuable opportunity.

Joining NTNU as an exchange student was an incredible experience for me. It offered substantial learning opportunities, a friendly environment, strong work potential, and very supportive faculty members. As a research student, I worked with dedication and learned many new concepts that proved beneficial. I am truly inspired by the culture at NTNU.

This is Tooba Sohail, a thankful and proud selected candidate of NORPART- CONNECT. Its an undoubtedly incredible experience to be a part of research program, that too at NTNU which is itself the most reputed university. I have not only witnessed its positive impact on my academics but also transformed me as an individual.

My journey as an exchange student at NTNU Gjøvik was full of new experiences. I loved the international exposure, meeting new people, making new friends, and immersing myself in my favorite research area, “Medical Image Processing.” I spent nearly four months filled with learning, joy, and cultural exchange.

My experience as an exchange student at NTNU Gjøvik during spring 2024 was both academically enriching and personally transformative. I enjoyed the small, close-knit campus with its hands-on learning approach and supportive professors. The international community made it easy to form friendships, and I immersed myself in Norwegian culture through outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, as well as experiencing the stunning natural beauty of the country. While adjusting to the cold and occasional homesickness were challenges, they helped me grow more independent. Overall, the semester was a perfect blend of academic growth, cultural exploration, and unforgettable experiences.

I was selected for the NORPART research exchange in 2023. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary, enriched by the awe-inspiring landscapes of Norway and the incredible people that surrounded us. NTNU proved to be an exceptional host, providing all the necessary facilities, whether related to research resources or accommodation. This exchange opened doors to international collaboration, allowing me to forge new friendships and gain a fresh perspective not only on collaboration but also on diverse problem-solving approaches. During my tenure at NTNU, I authored a paper titled "Learning from the Few: A Fine-grained Approach to Wrist Pathology Recognition on a Limited Dataset." This research introduced an innovative fine-grained method for identifying wrist pathologies without the need for manual annotation. In addition, I had the privilege of collaborating with a master's student at NTNU, co-authoring a paper titled "Metadata Augmented Deep Neural Networks for Wild Animal Classification." This collaborative effort delved into the realm of multi-modal metadata-augmented models and explored depth-of-data fusion techniques in deep learning. By combining image and ecological metadata, we aimed to advance the classification of wild animals. Within the NTNU community, I partnered with a respected professor to propose a tool for wild animal classification, seeking potential funding. This journey has been a remarkable chapter in my academic and research endeavors, leaving a lasting impact on my professional growth.

Discover an incredible journey with NORPART Connect at NTNU! I've personally felt the impact of this program, especially coming from a place with limited opportunities like Pakistan. My time at NTNU for a research exchange was genuinely transformative. Engaging in collaborative projects and experiencing top-notch facilities opened doors I never thought possible. If you're in Pakistan and seeking enriching experiences, NORPART Connect and NTNU's programs are your ticket. Check our website for more info, and step into a world of endless possibilities!

My NTNU exchange was a snowy research odyssey, where I dedicated most of my time to research, gaining invaluable exposure and learning new insights. Along the way, I enjoyed discovering aspects of Norwegian culture and language. Tusen takk to NORPART-CONNECT for this incredible opportunity!

ts Hadsaw Kakazai here, and I am a recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Sukkur IBA University. I had the honor of presenting my research on Human Activity Recognition (HAR) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). My work introduced a novel approach combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Transformer Encoders, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) networks to enhance activity classification accuracy. This experience has significantly deepened my understanding of advanced machine learning techniques and their applications, and I am excited about the potential impacts of this research in various fields.

My time at NTNU has been nothing short of incredible. As my first experience studying abroad, the university seamlessly became a home away from home. NTNU not only provided a rich academic environment but also offered numerous opportunities to delve into socio-cultural variances across nations. I engaged in research procedures, gaining valuable insights and applying these techniques to my own research project. The experience extended beyond the academic realm, offering exposure to diverse European countries, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Austria, and, of course, Norway. Living in Norway provided the backdrop to explore its cities, creating a holistic cultural immersion. Moreover, my journey at NTNU enhanced my proficiency in machine learning and deep learning techniques, providing practical guidance for their application, particularly in the realm of image data. NTNU has truly been a transformative and enriching chapter in my academic journey. 

I want to express my gratitude to Sukkur IBA family, who has played pivotal role in making this exchange opportunity possible for us. This semester exchange opportunity has been a valuable source of exploring Norwegian culture, traditions, and academic life at NTNU. The environment was cooperative and supportive throughout my stay there. The academic environment is really inspiring there. From exploring natural landscapes to celebrating traditional festivals, every moment has been a great source of learning and exploring cultural diversities. I am really thankful for the host institution for its hospitability.

My exchange semester at NTNU in Gjøvik, Norway, was an extraordinary journey of academic achievement and cultural exploration. Over four months, I collaborated on research projects, resulting in the publication of several papers. The Norwegian lifestyle was an incredible experience, combining the tranquility of Gjøvik with the urban charm of cities like Oslo. One of the most magical moments was witnessing the breathtaking Aurora Lights, an awe-inspiring display of nature's beauty. The initial welcome by a freezing -12°C upon arrival was a brisk introduction to the Nordic climate. My adventure extended beyond Norway, including visits to Leuven, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague, each offering a unique blend of history, culture, and stunning sights. This enriching exchange semester at NTNU not only expanded my academic horizons but also left me with unforgettable experiences and a deeper appreciation for the diverse tapestry of European culture.

My experience of participating in the NORPART Connect Project and undertaking master’s thesis on the topic “Augmenting Active Learning with Text Generation Techniques: An Approach to Address Class Imbalance Problem in Textual Dataset” has been a truly transformative. I immersed in an intellectually stimulating and research conducive environment, I delve deeply into my research area, with unparalleled support from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU’s esteemed faculty, vibrant academic community, and excellent research facilities. Beyond the academic realm, I had the privilege of immersing myself in Norwegian culture, forging meaningful connections, and exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Norway. Particularly, spending summer in Norway in its countryside valleys of Gjovik was quite a remarkable experience of my life. I am deeply grateful to Sukkur IBA University, Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU, Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation - NORPART, and Curricula Development and Capacity Building in Applied Computer Science for Pakistani Higher Education Institutions - CONNECT project for providing this excellent opportunity to complete Master’s in Computer Science degree with specialization in Artificial Intelligence. 

This is Azhar Durrani, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Sukkur IBA University, where I also completed my undergraduate studies in Computer Science in 2020. From January to May 2022, I had the privilege of participating in a research exchange program at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). During my tenure at NTNU, I focused on an innovative research project involving Cricket Shot Classification using Transformer models. This exchange has greatly enriched my academic and professional experience, and I am grateful for the opportunities provided through this collaboration.