Student Blog Post

Why I Chose ManagiDiTH

I applied to ManagiDiTH because it represents a unique intersection of my two main passions: healthcare and digital technology. Having previously studied and worked across Europe and Africa, I was looking for a programme that could bridge my technical skills with knowledge of governance, ethics, and management in healthcare.

What really drew me in was the international and multidisciplinary structure of the programme. ManagiDiTH brings together professionals, students, teachers, and researchers from diverse backgrounds, which makes every discussion richer and more insightful. For me, it was the perfect opportunity to explore how digital transformation can address healthcare challenges both in Europe and in resource-limited settings like my home country, Nigeria.

Personal and Professional Growth

The programme has already changed how I approach healthcare problems. Before joining, I mostly focused on technical aspects such as biomedical devices, biomaterials, and AI applications. Now, I see the bigger picture: how co -creation, service design principles, policies, governance, and cultural contexts influence whether a digital solution is truly sustainable and impactful.

Working with international peers has been especially rewarding. I’ve learned how collaboration across cultures leads to innovative ideas and a deeper appreciation of the complexities of digital health. These experiences have sharpened my leadership and project management skills while strengthening my confidence to take on global healthcare challenges.

Highlights So Far

One of the highlights of my first year was participating in collaborative projects where we analyzed real-world health data, digital products and discussed business, regulatory and ethical challenges in AI for healthcare. These group projects reminded me that digital health is not just about technology—it’s also about people, policies, and systems working together inclusively, responsibly and sustainably.

The summer school was another unforgettable experience. Meeting fellow students in person, exchanging ideas, and working intensively on case studies—using tools like ideation, service design, and brainstorming—gave me a strong sense of community within the programme. It also reinforced the fact that ManagiDiTH is about global leadership, building networks and friendships, not just academic knowledge.

Looking Ahead

Studying in ManagiDiTH is shaping my career direction toward advancing personalized medicine and digital health innovation. I aim to play a role in developing solutions that make healthcare more accessible and equitable, particularly in under-resourced environments.

With the skills I am gaining here—from digital governance to cross-border collaboration—I feel better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of healthcare worldwide.

Final Thoughts

If you are considering applying to ManagiDiTH, my advice is simple: do it. The programme is both challenging and rewarding, and it will push you to grow in ways you don’t expect. More importantly, it connects you with a community of people who are passionate about shaping the future of healthcare through digital transformation and application of AI in a way that is explainable, responsible, inclusive and sustainable.

While reviewing several programs, ManagiDiTH sparked my interest due to its interdisciplinary and innovative curriculum design. The courses approach the digitalization of healthcare from a holistic point of view, addressing state-of-the-art technologies, core concepts and key interventions by combining elements from the social, digital, and health sciences. The online and international nature of the program, offered jointly by ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal), Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), was also instrumental in my decision to apply. As someone who has always valued moving beyond the familiar and pursuing growth through change, I saw this program as an interesting opportunity to navigate novel, cross-border professional paths while continuing to fulfill my work obligations.

Although I was already familiar to some extent with concepts and aspects of digital health transformation, the program equipped me with additional knowledge, including international health policies, legislations and methodologies for developing customer-oriented, co-creative and value-driven digital services. However, perhaps the most important takeaway was the invaluable real-world insights shared by healthcare professionals and other primary stakeholders. Understanding end-user challenges and needs, analyzing existing system limitations and identifying desired features are crucial for creating solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows. Because at the end of the day, a product fulfills its purpose through adoption. Design and development mean little without engagement.

In my opinion, one of the distinctive advantages of ManagiDiTH is its international, interdisciplinary and diverse academic environment. This ecosystem allows for learning about digital health interventions across countries with varying levels of digital maturity. Meanwhile, the rich variation in student backgrounds enhances the learning experience through different perspectives offered by a wide range of stakeholders, each playing a critical role in shaping the digital transformation of healthcare. The heterogeneity of experience levels among students further enriches the learning dynamic. Senior professionals offer meaningful contributions drawn from their career paths. At the same time, younger students have the chance to learn from more experienced ones and build relationships with other early-career professionals, grounded in common goals and shared challenges.

One memorable chapter of the ManagiDiTH student journey was the summer school held this May in Lisbon, an experience that far exceeded my expectations. This opportunity allowed us to meet the professors, faculty members, and fellow students in person, with whom we had been interacting and collaborating virtually throughout the year. There, we attended lectures by distinguished professionals from industry and academia, and we worked in groups on service design challenges proposed by enterprises. I am particularly grateful for this opportunity as I got to meet people from different countries and distinct backgrounds, engage in fruitful discussions and share many fun moments that will stay with me for a long time – and, of course, to enjoy the colourful city of Lisbon, with its delicious cuisine, traditional music, and lively streets.

We all have our unique goals – professional and personal aspirations we want to pursue in life. As for me, ManagiDiTH has supported both in a truly impactful way!