Neroli Soso

How did you stumble upon the programme?

It's not the most romantic story. I was looking for a master's programme in English after my civil engineering studies at EPFL. While researching options on the ETH website, I came across this programme.

What motivated you to apply for the Master in Integrated Building Systems (MIBS) programme?

I enjoyed studying civil engineering, but during my bachelor's degree I began to lose my sense of purpose. The focus on highly technical details made it difficult to see the bigger picture. When I came across the MIBS programme, it felt like a door had opened to new possibilities. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree offered a unique opportunity to explore both the creative and technical aspects of the built environment. I suddenly felt that I could approach my work with a purpose: to contribute to building a more sustainable future, a goal I share with many of my generation.

What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your studies so far?

One of the outstanding aspects of this degree is the opportunity to work with brilliant minds from all over the world, each with their own unique expertise, ambitions, cultures and quirks (😊). As an engineer, I'm used to working within a defined set of rules, so working closely with architects, who tend to have a more artistic and exploratory mindset, was both impressive and inspiring. Their approach to pushing the boundaries and their distinct work ethic offered a unique perspective.

Naturally, working with diverse mindsets comes with its challenges. One of the difficulties was finding harmony within a team, working out how to align views when team members have different priorities or different levels of ambition for what a project should achieve.

Another highlight of this programme was the freedom to explore a wide variety of courses beyond the programme's suggested curriculum. As long as the courses were in line with the objectives of the programme, we were encouraged to branch out. This flexibility gave me a strong sense of ownership over how deeply I wanted to explore certain topics, like building the stats of a video game character! For example: buff Creativity by +2, Technical Skills by +3, Knowledge by +2 and Soft Skills by +4. It was an exciting way to shape my learning journey.

However, this freedom came with its own challenges, as too much exploration sometimes left me feeling lost. There were moments of doubt when my sense of direction seemed unclear. Looking back, I'd say 'trust the process'. Despite feeling disoriented at times, I later realised how much I'd learnt and how comfortable I'd become with the issues we were tackling.

How do you think you have benefited from your studies?

To be honest, I was hoping that by the end of the course I would have discovered "the one". That one topic that I'd be so passionate about that I'd be willing to let it consume me for the rest of my life. I didn't find it, but what I got out of this degree was far more than I expected. I always saw myself as the technical support person in a team, but through numerous group projects I realised that I can adapt well to any role, whether it be supporting or even leading. I discovered that I have a strong ability to create a harmonious and motivating atmosphere within a team. I haven't found "the one", but I have discovered that my potential lies in "working in a team that strives to build a more sustainable future".

To whom would you recommend MIBS?

The core objective of this degree is to equip students with technical skills and knowledge, with a particular focus on the energy performance and environmental impact of buildings. So, within this context, I would recommend this degree to anyone who wants the opportunity to take diverse courses and explore a wide range of courses and explore a wide range of topics related to the built environment (like me after my bachelor!). On the other hand, I would also recommend this degree to those who already have a specific area of interest and want to deepen their expertise. The variety of courses available allows them to build a strong technical toolkit and gain different perspectives on that particular topic.