Migration & Refugees, Postgraduate Certificate, Howest University of Applied Sciences

Dear Nakisa, can you say a few words about yourself? Why did you come to study in Belgium and what made you choose Bachelor of Digital Arts and Entertainment? 

I started my studies of Game Development in Germany at a school called BiB-International College. That school is at its core similar to DAE. There I learned some basics in the realm of Game Dev. The school offered a program where they would connect you with international universities, which DAE was part of. After seeing DAE and learning how great it was, it was a pretty easy pick for me.

What was your first impression when you arrived in Belgium, did you encounter any cultural difficulties?

Since I am from Germany, the cultural differences are not that noticeable. This can of course vary for the people coming from all around the world to study at Howest. However, the great thing about that is that even if you are from a very different place, at DAE everyone finds a place in this weird extended family!

What was the biggest challenge for you during the three years of studies?

My biggest challenge must have been a combination of all of the challenges! :D I didn’t find any specific challenge too overwhelming, but the combination of having to take care of your life, preparing for exams and projects and trying to live healthily and socialise in a healthy manner was not always easy. I believe it is important to keep these things up though, because if you don’t, things might feel “easier”, but you run the risk of starting unhealthy habits, not feeling well overall and worst of all, burning out. Balance is key!

What was your favourite subject? And which of the lecturers inspired you the most?

In general programming, but any course in which we made games was amazing. And with that, all the teachers that taught those courses. I can honestly say though, all the teachers are amazing, and I felt every single one was truly individual, inspiring and resourceful. But also, Andries Geens is probably the one who I feel has done the most for me and I am very grateful and consider myself lucky to have had a teacher as great as him.

If asked to describe DAE in 3 words, what would they be?

Tough - Rewarding - Lifechanging

Tell us a little bit about where did you do your internship (in what role, what tasks did you have and how did you find it)?

I did my internship at Cybernetic Walrus. This company is seated in Antwerp and was founded by some very successful DAE alumni. I did my internship as a gameplay programmer. I worked on two games the company is doing and I have done all manner of programming and gameplay programming tasks, ranging from creating game mechanics to creating an entire campaign for a PS5 title. I did find it/them through the DAE Internship Fare. An event where Kristel Balcaen organizes for many companies to come and interact with students with the goal of networking and finding internships. Through that I found several interesting companies and got to pick the one I liked best.

What was your favourite place in Kortrijk (or Belgium) and why?

I loved the river. Especially in the summer. I like serenity and having sunshine, a bit of wind and some quiet is what I appreciate most sometimes. But there is also a Ramen place at the river, which is probably a close second :P 

What are your career plans after graduation? What is the big dream? Do you feel you have the necessary tools after DAE to make the dream come true?

My plan is to find a group of people and try to found a studio of my own and make games myself. I think DAE provided the knowledge for so much, that that is what I am about to do now!

“DAE has given me the best skills of all: discipline, work ethic and being able to figure out stuff on my own’’

From games to architectural visualization. A very inspiring story of Konstantina from Greece.

Dear Konstantina, can you say a few words about yourself (where are you from, how old are you, what programme do you study and what year). Why did you come to study in Belgium and what made you choose Bachelor of Digital Arts and Entertainment at Howest University of Applied Sciences? 

Hello! I am Konstantina from Greece, I am 24 years old, and I have chosen to study Game Graphics Production at Howest DAE. My story started 4 years ago when I enrolled in a two-year 3D animation course in Greece and I realised how much I loved creating 3D spaces.

I knew that the education I got in Greece was not going to be enough to make it as a 3D artist, so I had to choose another study program to dive deeper into the subject. I had a wonderful teacher who helped me with everything especially with finding the Bachelor of Digital Arts and Entertainment programme at Howest and helping me decide to come study here. She knew a former student of hers that had studied game graphics production at Howest, so she gave me her contact information.

It was such a relief to have another person answer any questions I had, and that’s why I loved being a Unibuddy Howest Ambassador and helping other people who want to study here. After I learned everything I needed to know, I arranged all my paperwork and applied to Howest. The moment I saw the acceptance email, I knew my life track would change for the better.

What was your first impression when you arrived in Belgium, did you encounter any cultural difficulties?

As I lived in Greece my whole life, going from 40 degrees in early September to 16 was a shock. Thankfully, I went shopping right before my departure for better winter clothes because I definitely needed them! I came to Belgium with my parents who helped me move my crazy amount of clothing and helped me find a dorm. They stayed for 5 days, so we travelled to every big city in Belgium, and so they got to see the country before they left too. Everything was very different from what I was used to. The first thing I noticed was the number of bikes at the train station. That was real culture shock! The only cultural difficulty that I encountered was that I was used to going out way more. In Greece, after work or school, we always spend the rest of our day outside with friends. In Belgium, also because of the weather, that wasn’t happening too often. I took that opportunity though to learn more about myself and appreciate alone time too and it has shaped me into the way I am right now. So it ended up being a pleasant experience.

What was the biggest challenge for you during the three years of studies?

The biggest challenge was the workload for sure. Finding a way to balance everything (college, social life, exercising, reading, sleeping) was a struggle, and it took me some time to get used to. I ended up balancing everything after my 2nd year, it’s just something that takes discipline and knowing yourself and your limits.

What was your favourite subject? And who from the lecturers inspired you the most?

My favourite subjects were 3D high poly, game asset pipeline, level editing and level decoration. I love props and environments, so those courses were spot on for my interests. I admired a lot of teachers in my school, mostly because I saw them becoming better at what they do at a very fast rate, and because they were interested in us. We could contact them for any problem we had even if it wasn’t school related. I really enjoyed the courses from Jan and Dries, it was always fun and informative to have them for class!

If asked to describe DAE in 3 words, what would it be?

Effort - life-changing - awesome-people-who-I-miss-everyday!

Currently you are in your last semester of the three-year journey, and you have dine your internship in The Netherlands. Tell a little bit more about your internship and whether it was  difficult to find an internship placement?

I followed a bit of a different route regarding my career. I decided that I wanted to use all the knowledge I gained from games but apply it in a very different field, namely architectural visualisation. I wanted to get an internship in the Netherlands as I was already here for a semester as an Erasmus exchange in BUAS. I also wanted it to be in archviz, so I had to look it up on my own. I was very happy that I landed that internship, which is for a company called Mirror Visuals and the founder is Greek! My tasks are mostly divided into learning and assisting, so most of the time I assist with projects (modelling, placing, materials, lighting) for both big and small projects (exteriors, café-bars, restaurants, jewellery stores). And when I have time left, I either follow a course for archviz in Unreal that is provided by the company, or I work on personal stuff. 

What is your favourite place in Kortrijk (or Belgium) and why?

I really love Gent and Bruges, they feel like magical cities and Gent is a very nice place for partying, dining and taking very long walks. I also enjoyed Antwerp since it feels more like a busy city, and I am obsessed with big cities. One place I love near Kortrijk is 20 minutes away from the city by bike. There is a big lake surrounded by nature. I remember I went there 3-4 times with my friends, and we had such a wholesome time there.

What are your career aspirations after the internship? What is your big dream? Do you feel you have the necessary tools after DAE to make that dream come true?

I have big career plans! In the first 5-10 years, I want to open my own company in Greece focused in archviz, but also work globally. I want to have a team of 5-6 people that I trust, and we’ll take care of big projects with big clients. Archviz in Greece isn’t very well known yet, so there are barely any companies that focus just on that (2 or 3 to my knowledge), so I want to make it more accessible and something that companies will invest in. Further into the future, I want to be an interior designer (hopefully working with interior designers for so many years will give me enough experience to ‘replace’ a degree).

Since I drifted away from games, I had to learn a lot of things for archviz on my own. But, as a dear friend of mine once said, DAE has given me the best skills of all: discipline, work ethic and being able to figure out stuff on my own. I don’t think I would be at this place right now, already working with several clients alongside my internship, if I hadn’t gone to this school. The competitive environment brought out the best out  in me (I speak very personally here). I am competitive, so it worked for me pretty well. And acquiring skill after skill allowed me to have these big dreams and believe in myself!

What piece of advice can you give students who want to study DAE?

Work hard, fight for what you love, and if you feel like it’s not for you, think carefully about dropping out and keep searching for what you love. The only way you can withstand the pressure and workload without going crazy is if you actually like what you do.

I would advise everyone who enrolled to not procrastinate, have a schedule that includes everything you want (gaming, working, sleeping, cooking, going out - you can combine everything for sure!) and adjust it as you go. Don’t get discouraged if the person next to you makes something amazing in 5 minutes and you struggle for a whole day and it doesn’t look good yet. Not everyone learns at the same pace and hard work always beats talent. I hope you all have an amazing time, see you on the other side!

You can check Konstantina's portfolio here

Dear Ines, can you say a few words about yourself. Why did you come to study in Belgium and what made you choose Bachelor of Digital Arts and Entertainment (DAE) at Howest?

My name is Ines Leipold, I am 22 years old, and I am originally from Austria. It was quite a coincidence that I found out about Howest. I was working as an Au Pair in Brussels after my  graduation and a friend in Brussels pointed out that this school would be perfect for me. I went to the DAE Open-door days, and I immediately knew, this would be the perfect place for me to study.

What was your first impression when you arrived in Belgium, did you encounter any cultural difficulties?

My first impression of Belgium was very good. I do not think there is a big culture clash between Belgium and Austria. The biggest cultural difficulty for me was that Belgian people often do not open up that easily to new people, so it is a bit more difficult to make friends. On the other hand, the international community at DAE was very helpful when it came to connecting people.

What was the biggest challenge for you during the three years of studies?

Work-life balance. We often worked very long hours but also had to take care of ourselves. There was very little time for activities.

What was your favourite subject? And who from the lecturers inspired you the most?

My favourite subject was and always will be Level Decoration. I specialise in Level Art and Environments now. My biggest inspirations were Tristan and Milan. I remember them always pushing me to go a step further, so I could achieve the best that I could possibly be. Additionally, I want to give special thanks to Isabelle, who was always there as a moral and emotional support for everyone.

If asked to describe DAE in 3 words, what would it be?

Hard-work, friendship, Friday-night beers

Tell a little bit about where did you do your internship (in what role, what tasks did you have and how did you find it)?

I did my internship at Ubisoft Massive in Sweden, as a Junior Environment Artist. My tasks included mostly decorating certain areas and landmarks in the game. Sometimes I also had to setup technical things for assets etc. It was a lot of fun; I really enjoyed the creative process of creating/decorating environments.

What was your favourite place in Kortrijk (or Belgium) and why?

My favourite place was definitely deDingen. That was the bar where we usually went. They also had amazing breakfast. So, you could go out on Saturday night and then come back in the morning for a hangover breakfast