In order to cultivate versatile talents, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) offers an opportunity for undergraduates with excellent academic performance and adequate time to study for a dual degree of the Technion, which provides students a channel to broaden their academic horizons and engage in interdisciplinary academic research.

What is it like to study for a dual degree at GTIIT under heavy academic pressure? How to deal with course conflicts? How to allocate study time for each program? In response to these concerns, we will launch a series of interviews for students pursuing dual degrees to introduce this group of "GTIIT's busiest people".

Here is the story of Lv Leran, a student who will get a dual degree.

Lv Leran is a Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) student of cohort 2018, who takes Mathematics with Computer Science (MCS) as his additional program. As a top student in Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), he lives a hectic but fulfilling college life: he is a lab tutor, a research assistant, a fitness enthusiast, the captain of GTIIT football team, the “well-known barista on campus”…With a good balance of coursework and life, he continues to explore the unknowns.

Q: As an MSE student, why did you decide to take MCS as your dual-degree program?

Pursuing a dual degree allows me to think from a diverse disciplinary perspective. When I was a freshman, I learned from Prof. Eliahu Aljadeff, the head of MCS, that GTIIT purposed to open a mathematics program in 2020. Intrigued with math and knowing that I have spare capacity, I applied for the dual degree by the end of my first year.

Lv Leran and Prof. Eli

Being a basic subject in STEM, mathematics has a wide field of application. It can be an aid for MSE, widening my future directions; yet I'd rather dive into it.

Lv Leran and his family

Q: How does it feel to study for a dual degree?

To be honest, I struggled. I had far less spare time compared with students studying a single program. In 2019, when MCS was still in the preparation stage, my teacher would spend two to three hours per week demonstrating knowledge. And after class, I would devote more hours to reviewing. As MCS officially launched, we dual-degree students had lessons with junior MCS students. Up till now I've finished all courses in MSE and will complete MCS within the next year.

Q: Did you have any difficulty in study? Would you share with us your learning methods?

Not many. But as I was facing double academic pressure, I need to be “extremely” efficient. For example, for the final exams, I had to compress the time for every subject. When two exams get out at the same time, I need to finish both before I could leave the exam room.

Lv Leran (first from the left in the back)

In terms of my learning method, I'd recommend students to review more, try to connect points and points, and summarize them into the knowledge system. This will help you grasp a deeper insight into your expertise.

Q: Are there any courses and teachers that impressed you?

I like Dr. Maxim Levit's “Semiconductor Devices for Materials Engineers”. With a 25-year working experience in Intel, Dr. Maxim shares a veteran point of view in classes, combining materials with semiconductors, the tuyere industry nowadays. This is also the course where I asked the most questions since I was interested in this direction, and the instructor was kind and happy to answer.

吕乐然（右二）与Maxim老师（右一）

Click to read the interview with Dr. Maxim:

Prof. Wang Nan, my advisor on the Advance Project in Materials Engineering, also impresses me. His research focuses on understanding defects and interfaces related to materials behavior using theories and computational methods, which have interdisciplinary features and can make the most of my dual-program knowledge. Besides, his office door is always open, and welcomes curious students to discuss with him.

Q: Do you have time to participate in extracurricular activities? How to balance work and life?

I make good use of my time by being efficient and concentrating on both work and life. Apart from studying, I am the second leader of GTIIT's football team, responsible for coaching games and training. Last year, I led the team to get the university's first medal in sports in the game with Shantou University.

Football game between Senior students and faculty

Lv Leran (left)

I am also a lab tutor, guiding undergraduate students with basic MSE experiments including Tension tests and Phase diagram studies, through which I knew more about GTIIT and laid a solid foundation for my future career.

Lv Leran (first from the left)

During vacations, I went to Singapore and studied in enterprises and universities; I also visited environment protection and fire protection engineering companies as an intern, studying regulations, detecting on the spot, and learning relative engineering projects.

Q: Do you recommend junior students to pursue a dual degree?

I'd advise them to take careful thought. A dual degree means more possibilities; while it is hard to maintain. Apart from its high elimination rate, your grades in all courses in the additional program will be counted in your GPA, which requires you more effort to earn a higher rank. Besides, it usually takes two extra semesters for dual degree students to graduate. So, take serious consideration before determination. If it's already clear that you want to focus on a particular field in the future, then concentrating your efforts may be a better choice.

Lv Leran (right) and Chancellor Gong

Q: What's your future plan?

I am confident in my learning ability in university, but I need to explore more about how far I can go in practice. It is most desirable that I could balance my career and interests, doing something that fits me. I look forward to making a difference and contributing to society with what I've learned. As a line from Peaky Blinders says, “I have no limitation.”

Text: GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Lv Leran, GTIIT News & Public Affairs