Graduation Day for ICTP Diploma Students

It has been described by alumni as an open door to a world of scientific opportunities, an unforgettable stop in an academic journey, and a starting point for life-long friendships. ICTP's Postgraduate Diploma Programme was all of that and more to the 42 students who graduated on 26 August, completing an intense year of physics and mathematics studies that has prepared them to further their careers as masters or doctoral students or as faculty in their home countries. 

This year's Diploma graduates represent 24 countries across five continents. Eighteen students have been accepted to PhD studies at  prestigious universities throughout Europe and the US, while 7 have been admitted to masters programmes.

Addressing the students during the graduation ceremony, ICTP Director Atish Dabholkar  commented, "It is beautiful to see scientists from so many different countries launching their careers, representing the global mission of ICTP. In that sense you are the ambassadors of ICTP's mission. The goal of the ICTP's Diploma Programme is not necessarily only to get a PhD, it also prepares you for careers in many different directions." He added, " You are joining a global community and network of Diploma alumni. The friendships you have made here will stay with you for the rest of your lives. ICTP will remain your scientific home."

The Diploma Programme has five different study paths aligning with ICTP's research sections. Among the 42 graduates, five were identified as the top students in their cohorts. They are:

• Ali M. Yasin (Palestine) for Condensed Matter Physics
• Tomas Alzate Lugo (Colombia) for High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
• Nathasya Abenita Christien (Indonesia) for Earth System Physics 
• Samuel Gashaw Tegegn (Ethiopia) for Mathematics
• Krit Tangsongcharoen (Thailand) for Quantitative Life Sciences

Further recognition for Diploma academic excellence is provided by a special prize for the top Diploma student of the year established by Qaisar and Monica Shafi, longtime friends of ICTP. Qaiser Shafi has a personal connection to the Centre: he was a doctoral student of ICTP founder Abdus Salam's at Imperial College, London and organised many, yearly ICTP summer schools in high energy physics and cosmology. The 2026 Shafi Prize was given to Nathasya Abenita Christien, the top ESP student. In a recent ICTP interview, Christien discussed how they have succeeded in applying their mathematics skills to tackle environmental challenges.

Several students took the opportunity at the conclusion of the graduation ceremony to share their memories of the friendships they made and the challenges they overcame during their year at ICTP. 

"ICTP opened a door for me to a huge world I did not know existed; behind that door I found knowledge, challenges, new possibilities and, most importantly, people," said Fatima Zohra Bendjeddou of Algeria, adding, "We arrived here from different parts of world; we learned together, we struggled together and became a part of one shared journey. We are not the same people we were when we arrived."

Sudanese student Ahmed Awad Rahamtalla Abdalla said, "It has been an amazing year and one of the highlights of our academic journey so far. Everybody was so helpful and caring, and made me want to learn more. Now, one year later, I leave ICTP more confident, more full of knowledge and more ambitious."

Beatrice Villa Bayan, of the Philippines, recounted, "When I first arrived in Italy I thought that I was making the worst mistake of my life, that I never should have left my family, that I didn't belong here. It is so ironic that now I am here I do not want to leave." She continued, "This past year has been earth-shattering. Because of ICTP, I have a better vision of not only who I am but who I could be. I know it is easy to think of science as the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge's sake, as tireless discovery and conquering the unknown. But in reality, science is nothing without community, a community that fosters a wonder-driven attitude towards learning, that nourishes passion in the hearts of every student, and that sees in each and every member a reflection of themselves. Thank you ICTP, for giving me the chance to be part of this wonderful community."

Photos of the Diploma graduation ceremony can be viewed on ICTP's Flickr page.