EIT Digital gathers close to 600 Master School graduates for festive celebration

Salvatore Moccia, Head of the EIT Digital Master School, opened the ceremony with "a big applause to you, for all the hours spent to study, to get you where you are today! And a big applause for your families, for the sacrifice they made supporting you. The future is yours!"

Willem Jonker, EIT Digital CEO from 2010-2022, made a strong appeal:

“When a journey ends, a new journey starts. And when you start this new journey, it’s important that what you learned during these two years becomes a part of your professional career and your life in society. At EIT Digital, we not only invest in innovation and education, but also try to address societal challenges. Digital technology is an invaluable tool to address global challenges, but also an instrument in the armed conflicts across the globe. I call on you to defend the values of democracy, the values of inclusion, and the values of collaboration. Keep your principles as the guiding compass in the decisions you make in the future!”

Richard Benjamins, Chief AI and Data Strategist of EIT Digital partner Telefonica, echoed a key message of the day: "What you have to do in your future, when you think about the use of technology, do not only think about business, also think about ethical considerations, societal implications and the environmental footprint. Always think about the potential unintended consequences that application of digital technology may have and ensure your employers take these into consideration!"

"Four years ago, when I started this programme, I knew I wanted to create something of my own. After going through the whole Master School experience, I managed doing exactly that," said Master School graduate and Grape-co-founder Waliyah Saquani. "There are four things the EIT Digital Master School provided that made my entrepreneurial journey happen. The first one is the toolkit. We learned and applied design-thinking methods to solve problems, found product-market fits, filled out business model canvases, estimated our market sizes, and learned to pitch to actual investors. The second is the EIT Digital network, a network that is constantly present to support and encourage you throughout your journey. The third, and my personal favourite, is the people. Building a company is hard work - but what's harder is finding the right people to do it with. And who would be a better fit than your friends from this program. The fourth thing is the courage to tackle the big scary problems. If we learned anything after going through the EIT Digital Master School journey, it's that we are problem solvers. And we should play our part in ensuring our future on earth."