Researching the future of clean energy
Rachchelle is a final-year bachelor's student working on her thesis project at HiØ, supervised by associate professor Palanichamy Manikandan at Department of Engineering, part of Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics.
Her project focuses on using artificial intelligence to predict the remaining useful life of hydrogen fuel cell stacks — technology with direct applications in sustainable energy systems.
– The most interesting part has been working with real experimental data and understanding how degradation evolves in practical systems, she says.
– HiØ has provided the right balance of structured guidance and academic freedom, which has allowed me to grow as a researcher.
Rachchelle was drawn to Norway because of its global reputation for sustainability and clean technology:
– Norway's reputation for sustainability and clean energy aligned perfectly with my long-term academic and career plans. I wanted an international experience where I could not only learn advanced concepts but also contribute meaningfully to research that has real-world impact.
A full semester of engineering courses
Yin-Shi is spending a full semester at HiØ, taking courses in Power electronics, Communication networks, and High voltage technology and Relay protection. For her, the highlight has been the hands-on learning in the Communication networks course, where students work directly with FPGA boards.
– I really enjoyed the hands-on process of building something and seeing it work in practice, she says. The greatest challenge has been adapting to studying entirely in English for the first time.
Yin-Shi also noticed a striking cultural difference in the classroom:
– In Norway, the relationship between teachers and students feels closer and more open. Students are more expressive and ask questions I would never have thought of before, I find that very inspiring.
More than just studies
Both students highlight the warmth of Norwegian people as one of the most memorable aspects of their stay. For Yin-Shi, discovering brown cheese and experiencing snow for the first time have been personal highlights. Rachchelle puts it simply:
Norwegian nature is incredibly peaceful, but what has touched me the most is the kindness of the people. I have always felt welcomed and supported.
«Take the shot» - advice for future exchange students
When asked what advice they would give to students back home, both are enthusiastic. Rachchelle encourages students to be bold:
– If you're thinking about it, take the shot. Be open-minded, ready for independent learning, and willing to step outside your comfort zone. The experience can be deeply transformative.
Yin-Shi agrees:
– It is a great opportunity to experience a different culture, meet people from all over the world, and learn in a very open and interactive academic environment.
A mutual benefit- for students and faculty alike
Associate professor Palanichamy Manikandan, who supervises Rachchelle and teaches Yin-Shi, emphasizes the value the international students bring to HiØ:
– International students like Rachchelle and Yin-Shi bring exceptional dedication and fresh perspectives that elevate both my research and classroom discussions, he says. Rachchelle's work has already resulted in a conference abstract submission and is on track to produce both a journal and a conference paper.
The exchange also benefits Norwegian students. HiØ students are currently in the process of going to Taiwan for internships during summer 2026:
– HiØ's regular students benefit immensely from interactions with international students — they build meaningful friendships and learn about different cultures and work styles. It develops the cross-cultural competencies essential for global engineering careers.
International collaboration as a global responsibility
Rebecca Dawn Smith Norvang, senior advisor at the Section for admissions and internationalisation and institutional Erasmus+ coordinator at HiØ, underlines that the program goes beyond academic exchange:
– In a world facing interconnected global challenges such as climate and democratic crises, disinformation and the discrediting of evidence-based knowledge, international collaboration and cross-cultural understanding are not just valuable — they are essential, she says.
– Norwegian higher education institutions like HiØ have a responsibility to contribute actively to developing innovative solutions for these complex global issues, and projects like this demonstrate our commitment to that mission.
FACTS
- Rachchelle Phadvas Padmanaban is at HiØ until 15 April 2026. Yin-Shi Weng is staying for the full spring semester. Both are enrolled at the Department of Engineering (ING) at Campus Fredrikstad.
- The exchange is part of RESET Lab's initiative and is funded through KA171 Erasmus+ Global funding (grant 2025-1-NO01-KA171-HED-000336766) from Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, in collaboration with HiØ's International Office.
- This represents the initial phase of two funded projects: «Green Energy Innovation Through International Collaboration: Norway (HiØ)–India (PSG College of Technology) Partnership» and «Empowering Sustainable Engineering through International Collaboration: Norway (HiØ)–Taiwan (National Chung Cheng University) Partnership.»
