An engineering student exchange in France is not just an average trip abroad – it is a lesson for life and an ideal starting point in a young engineer’s career. Eugen, a Romanian computer science student, chose ESILV for his Erasmus exchange in France, which led him into an internship at Deezer in Paris.
Eugen Flocea is a student at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, one of ESILV’s many academic partners worldwide. As an ingoing exchange student at ESILV, he chose the Internet of Objects and & Security major, where he specialises in several areas such as computer science and cybersecurity, IoT and AI, networks and risk management.
Choosing ESILV Paris for your Year Abroad in France
After finishing a Mathematics and Computer Science high school programme at “Petru Rares” High School, Suceava, Romania, I decided to continue my Computer Science path.
I applied to Computer Science bachelor programs taught in English at the “Babes-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca. Because my program was taught in English, I had the opportunity to meet other international students, and that motivated me to apply to an Erasmus exchange program. Here I am now, an international student at ESILV.
I knew I wanted to do an international exchange since I left High School, but choosing where to go in an exchange program is indeed complex. Despite that, there have been some factors that lead me to choose ESILV.
Because I am part of Erasmus Student Network Cluj-Napoca, I could meet many amazing people and among them are ESILV students who have been in exchange during my second semester at UBB.
We studied the same subject, we had classes together, and we spent a lot of time together, which led to a strong friendship with some of them. Moreover, I met my girlfriend with whom I live together now, and we are studying the same subject at ESILV.
I liked what they related about French culture and their university. This, combined with the opportunity to learn in one of the biggest European capitals, made me choose ESILV for my exchange.
Engineering projects at ESILV: the path to becoming an engineer
My year at ESILV was challenging and full of experience that improved my knowledge and my way of thinking. I had the opportunity to work with French students for my PI2 project.
Because I am in my early career, this project was one of the biggest ones I ever did, working at it for eight months. Being a cybersecurity project, my team and I were working in partnership with Citadel, a cyber assurance start-up.
Our goal was to provide data, analyze it, make statistics, and conclude new helpful information about future possibilities in cyber assurance. Furthermore, we had to build machine learning models such that a Citadel could determine if the client is going to suffer from a cyber-attack in future or not.
Due to this project, I improved my Python, Pandas, Machine Learning, VBA and R skills. Moreover, I discovered how French people work and think, making me adapt and develop my communication, teamwork, and organizing skills.
What I enjoyed the most was how ESILV could improve students’ hard and soft skills. Also, the perfect example can be the project PI2 which I just described.
Something else I enjoyed at ESILV was the campus. Well organized, technologized and checking all the European standards, having everything you need in one place.
Paris, the place to be for your year abroad in France
It is incredible how many cultural experiences you can have in this city. When it was allowed, I visited as many museums as I could and now, due to the pandemic situation, I try to enjoy every beautiful open space of Paris.
I made a lot of new friends and not only French. Because of the international environment provided at ESILV, I have now friends from all around the world, especially Germany, Italy, the USA, Brazil, China, etc.
In the beginning, I was speaking just English with all of them, but by the time I started to talk in French to exercise it and become more fluent and confident.
Eugen at Parc Asterix
My favourite travelling memories from Paris was when I visited Parc Asterix with my girlfriend. It was my first time seeing an amusement park, and it was fantastic testing all the carousels. I even won at a carnival game a teddy unicorn for my girlfriend.
4th year engineering internship at Deezer in Paris
Currently, I am a Q/A Engineer intern at Deezer. Here, my team and I are in charge of the quality of the Deezer product by testing it and reviewing the new modifications before launching it on the market. I am working mainly using Java and Selenium.
Being in exchange in A4 at ESILV, I had to find and complete on my own an internship related to Computer Science. After months of writing cover letters, editing my CVs and preparing for technical interviews, I received a “YES” from Deezer.
I trained hard for my technical interview by reading Java Programming books, but what differentiates me from the other candidates is my international background.
Deezer is a company that appreciates global values; my work colleagues are from all around the world, not only France. Life at Deezer is, I would say, full of diversity, primarily because of the multicultural environment. Besides that, the office building is impressive. When I am at my office, I feel like an artist and not like an engineer.
Going out of your comfort zone as an international student
My piece of advice would be not to be afraid to try new things, new experiences or new opportunities and to not be scared of being different. If you are willing to be a student at ESILV or already are one, try to go abroad for A3 and A5. You can make new friends, learn new languages and discover new cultures. Going on international exchanges can change your way of thinking, your personality and your future.
