Last August, we had the pleasure of celebrating the graduation of the 10th cohort of the EMerald Master’s programme. The master now proudly counts 163 alumni working across the globe.

Beyond the academic excellence we are so proud of, we also want to highlight the richness of the human journey that this European joint master’s represents: a unique experience of diversity, collaboration, and shared growth.

During the ceremony, we were deeply moved by the beautiful graduation speech written by Benedict Lazar (from Germany), which captures so well what EMerald is all about.

We would like to share this excerpt with you.

“ Exactly two years ago, 10 young people took a leap of faith and came here to Liège. Ten young people speaking different languages, holding different views of the world, shaped by different childhoods, different personalities, and different beliefs. Two years and these 10 people became more than classmates………They became dear friends.

I experienced Filipino serenity and cheerfulness.
Indonesian generosity and determination.
Brazilian sayings and its people’s reliability.
Sri Lankan food and charity.
Belgian creativity and kindness.
And of course – as a German having a special relation with my French colleague, I discovered that behind their tough shell lies a loyalty you can always count on.

Before this master, I used to look at the world with German – or at least European – eyes. But over the past two years, I feel like I have begun to see our beautiful world with a more global view.

I grew up in a time when open borders and international cooperation felt normal — something we could take for granted. But today, when countries worldwide are turning inward, focusing only on their own interests, I believe it is all the more important to be thankful for institutions like the European Union that make programs like this possible.
While in some countries students spend decades paying back their student loans, we here in the European Union actually got paid to study. We received money in order to learn and grow.

These last two years once again reminded me that kindness is not bound to a country, a culture, or a continent. It lives inside each and every one of us. Take this kindness with you and don’t let go of it. Carry it home and share it with the world around you. Let it shine — just like a real Emerald does.” 💎