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From Beirut to Toulouse: Daniel, an excellence scholarship holder
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Daniel ZAYAT chose to leave his roots in Lebanon to pursue a course of engineering excellence in Toulouse. Thanks to the ISAE-SUÄPERO Foundation’s Excellence Scholarship, this choice was made possible. Between academic commitment, cultural discovery and personal growth, he tells you about the years that marked a decisive turning point in his life.
What were your motivations when you arrived in France?
Having lived most of my life in Lebanon, my native country to which I remain deeply attached, coming to study in France represented a decisive turning point for me. It was the first time I’d left my family, my daily environment and all my landmarks behind to settle down on my own abroad. Joining a top school like ISAE-SUPAERO, recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in the fields of aeronautics and aerospace, was an ambitious, almost intimidating goal, but one that lived up to the aspirations I’d been nurturing for several years. As I set off, I carried with me a mixture of excitement, pride, responsibility and apprehension, aware that this step would profoundly transform my future.
One of my most intimate motivations was to make my family proud. After the loss of my father in 2022, this ambition took on a new dimension. He had always been my primary source of motivation, the one who believed deeply in my abilities and constantly encouraged me to aim higher. His absence made this departure for France particularly emotionally charged: I felt the need to pursue the path he had imagined for me, and to prove to him, symbolically, that everything he had passed on to me continued to guide my choices. Leaving my mother behind in Lebanon was one of the most painful decisions of my life, but it strengthened my resolve. I had to succeed, to justify this sacrifice, to make this adventure away from my family truly meaningful.
Academically, after studying chemical and petrochemical engineering at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, I felt a strong need to broaden my scientific horizons. Joining ISAE-SUPAERO as part of a double degree program was the perfect answer. I knew that this school would give me access to a demanding, multi-disciplinary engineering training program, focused on complex issues related to aeronautics, space and energy systems. For me, this transition represented the ideal opportunity to strengthen my skills, diversify my knowledge and project myself into areas of innovation that are shaping the future of technology in France, Europe and beyond. From the outset, I saw this training as a unique opportunity to move on from my initial specialization while consolidating it, and above all to join a stimulating, rich and demanding scientific community.
The testimony of Daniel ZAYAT
General Engineer
In parallel with my double degree course, my stay at ISAE-SUPAERO also enabled me to take the Master 2 DET (Dynamique des Fluides, Énergétique et Transferts), a national master’s degree specializing in fluid mechanics and energetics. This course, given in the form of additional classes every Thursday afternoon and split between INP-ENSEEIHT and ISAE-SUPAERO, was a particularly enriching academic opportunity. Not only did it enable me to deepen my theoretical knowledge and consolidate my grounding in fluid mechanics, thermics and energetics, but it also introduced me to a more research-oriented approach, which is both demanding and complementary to that of the engineering curriculum. Taking part in this Master’s program also gave me the chance to work alongside students from other Toulouse engineering schools, such as INP-ENSEEIHT, Paul Sabatier and INSA, opening up my academic horizons and familiarizing me with a variety of working methods.
Although this additional commitment represented a challenge in terms of organization, particularly in terms of reconciling two demanding courses of study and maintaining a personal balance, it was a particularly formative experience for me. The M2 DET gave me a more complete vision of my field, significantly strengthened my scientific profile, and added real value to my future career.
But my motivations went far beyond the academic. Moving to Toulouse also meant discovering a new culture, living on my own for the first time, confronting a new society and learning to navigate in a cosmopolitan environment. I wanted to develop my autonomy, sense of responsibility and personal maturity. I also wanted to open up to the world, to exchange with students from all over the world, to understand their visions, their backgrounds and their cultures. For me, this international immersion represented one of the most enriching aspects of academic mobility.
“From the moment I arrived at ISAE-SUPAERO, I knew my stay would exceed my expectations.”
How was your stay?
…On the academic level?
Academically, I was confronted with an intense, demanding but extremely formative rhythm. The courses, team projects, seminars and practical work enabled me to acquire solid technical skills, particularly in fields I’d never explored before. I discovered aerodynamics, advanced fluid mechanics, numerical simulation and the energy and environmental issues associated with aeronautical and propulsion systems. This immersion has enabled me to build a robust and versatile scientific base, perfectly in line with my professional ambitions.
…On a human and cultural level?
In human and cultural terms, my stay was exceptionally rich. I met students from many different countries, with very different cultures, languages and perspectives. Despite intercultural differences, I quickly realized that student life at ISAE-SUPAERO created a privileged meeting ground: academic exchanges, collaborative projects, associative activities and multicultural events enabled us to forge strong bonds. This diversity taught me to overcome cultural barriers, to work as part of a team in a variety of contexts, and to develop an ability to adapt that is essential in an internationalized environment.
…In terms of associations?
My involvement in the school’s community life has also played a major role. As vice-president of the Club Liban, I had the opportunity to promote my culture while contributing to the dynamism of student life. I coordinated the organization of events, meetings and activities aimed at introducing all students to Lebanese culture. I also took part in the creation of several Lebanese Foyers, which brought together international students for convivial moments. These responsibilities enabled me to develop my leadership, team management and organizational skills, while strengthening my sense of belonging and creating cultural bridges within the campus.
…in Toulouse?
Living in Toulouse has been a deeply moving experience, far beyond the academic aspect. I discovered a warm, human-sized city with a welcoming atmosphere. The charm of the banks of the Garonne, the serenity of the Canal du Midi and the singular architecture of the Ville Rose punctuated my daily life and gave me moments of pause in the midst of my workload. Campus life at ISAE-SUPAERO was dynamic and enriching: between the associations, student events, evenings in the hostel and multicultural encounters, I really felt part of a close-knit community. This atmosphere, both studious and friendly, helped me to blossom, to get out of my comfort zone, and to live to the full this experience far from my native country.
…in France?
Apart from Toulouse, my stay in France gave me the opportunity to explore the country and discover a wealth of culture and history I’d previously only known from books. In my free time, I had the opportunity to visit several towns that had a profound impact on my stay. Carcassonne, with its majestic ramparts, transported me to another century. Albi, Toulouse-Lautrec’s birthplace, impressed me with its unique architecture and imposing cathedral. Rocamadour, clinging to a cliff, remains one of the most striking places I’ve visited. I also spent time in several major French cities, including Paris, Rouen, Lille and Reims, each revealing a different face of French culture: the artistic effervescence of Paris, the medieval soul of Rouen, the human warmth of the North in Lille, or the historic prestige of Reims. These trips broadened my understanding of French regional identities and added an essential personal and cultural dimension to my academic stay.
…And on a personal level?
Living on my own for the first time also enabled me to develop an autonomy I’d never experienced before. Managing my studies, my projects, my personal responsibilities and my daily balance taught me to be organized, independent and resilient. It gave me the maturity to face new situations and make decisions with confidence, qualities that will play a central role in my future career.
What added value did this stay bring to your career?
The added value of this stay for my career is immense. Joining a top school like ISAE-SUPAERO gave me access to an innovation-oriented environment, as well as to a network of leading industrial players. My time at ISAE-SUPAERO enabled me to make invaluable contacts at companies like Safran and Airbus, particularly during academic projects and professional exchanges. In my third year, I was able to take part in a study project with Airbus Helicopters, an experience that gave me a real immersion in a real and complex industrial issue. I also had the opportunity to do my end-of-studies internship with EDF, which was a major asset for my entry into the professional world. The internship enabled me to put my skills in numerical simulation, thermal engineering and fluid dynamics into practice, and to gain a better understanding of current energy issues.
More generally, ISAE-SUPAERO gave me the technical, methodological and relational foundations I needed to start a career in demanding sectors. It broadened my professional horizons, boosted my self-confidence and clarified my ambitions. Today, as I write this report, I’m still looking for a job, but with several very promising leads, thanks in particular to the skills, projects and contacts developed during these two years.
For the rest of my career, I’d like to join a company where I can put my skills in modeling, simulation and fluid mechanics to good use, while working in a stimulating international environment. My aim is to contribute to projects with a strong scientific and technical impact, while pursuing the ideal of excellence that my family has passed on to me and that ISAE-SUPAERO has helped to reinforce.
However, while this experience has been extremely rewarding, it has not been without its challenges. The first few months were particularly trying: adapting to a new, more demanding and autonomous educational system required constant effort. The French administrative procedures, sometimes complex for a foreign student, and the distance from my family, were also obstacles. There were periods of intense stress, doubt and even exhaustion, when I questioned my ability to keep up. But these challenges played an essential role in my personal evolution: each difficulty I overcame pushed me to become better organized, more resilient and more self-confident. Looking back, I can see how much these challenges have contributed to my growth.
Over and above the academic learning and cultural discoveries, this stay also enabled me to better understand myself. I learned to identify my strengths: my ability to persevere, to adapt quickly to a new environment, to work effectively under pressure, but also my limits, notably the tendency to want to achieve everything perfectly, sometimes at the risk of burning out. Taking a step back from my own way of functioning was an essential element in my progress. By living on my own, far from my landmarks, I’ve learned to prioritize, to balance work and personal life, and to accept that success also depends on managing effort and time. This new maturity is one of the most valuable contributions of my experience, as it will have a lasting influence on my approach to professional and personal challenges in the years to come.
Today, I realize that my stay in France was much more than just an academic experience: it transformed the way I see myself and my future. Between the challenges encountered, the human encounters, the cultural discoveries and the personal achievements, I have built a more mature identity, more independent and more anchored in my ambitions. This experience has taught me the value of perseverance and hard work, but also the importance of staying true to the principles that have guided me from the start, notably the desire to make my family proud. I now feel more confident, more open to the world, and more ready than ever to contribute, in my own way, to ambitious projects in the fields I’m passionate about. This stay was a turning point in my life, a transition from who I was when I left Lebanon to the person I’ve become as I build my future in France.
What has the Foundation’s support made possible in concrete terms?
For me, the support of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation has been absolutely essential. Without the grant awarded to me in February 2023, my ambitions would have remained mere dreams, and my adventure would have ended before it had even begun. Coming from a family of modest financial means, and from a country hit by a deep economic crisis, I would have had great difficulty financing my tuition fees and, even more so, meeting my daily expenses.
The Foundation covered all my tuition fees at ISAE-SUPAERO. In addition, I received a monthly payment of €540 for 20 months, plus a one-off payment of €1,800. The Foundation also agreed to advance this first payment from October to September, which greatly facilitated my settling in when I arrived in France.
These amounts enabled me to cover all my monthly expenses, including :
- Accommodation,
- Living expenses,
- Public transport,
- Telephone charges.
On the other hand, this financial support alone did not enable me to finance trips to Lebanon, where a round trip costs an average of €600. However, starting with my first internship in my second year, which paid around €630 per month, I was able to combine this remuneration with the scholarship and visit my family twice: once during the summer and once at Christmas.
On the other hand, on a local level, the scholarship enabled me to discover a large part of the Occitanie region, as well as several major French cities, which greatly enriched my personal and cultural experience.
Have you received any other financial support?
Yes, as part of a double degree program, I had to continue paying the tuition fees at my home institution. To do this, I was able to benefit from the financial support of the LIFE Lebanon Foundation, as well as the social service of the Université Saint-Joseph, which granted me a loan and a scholarship. These grants enabled me to cover all my expenses in Lebanon.
For my life in France, on the other hand, the Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO was my only support, and it was entirely sufficient. It constituted the vast majority of the financial resources required for my stay. In percentage terms, I estimate that it represented around 90%, with the remainder corresponding mainly to remuneration for my internships and occasional family support.
So this scholarship was absolutely decisive. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to come, despite my strong desire to seize this academic opportunity. I’m extremely grateful for this support. I hope that one day, when my financial situation allows it, I’ll be able to give back to the Foundation, even if only a fraction of what it offered me, to give another young person like me the chance to pursue his or her dreams and blossom by fulfilling them.
A word to our donors?
“I would like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your constant support and for the warm welcome you give to every Foundation meeting and ceremony. You continue to offer hope to so many young people, foreigners and otherwise, by giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I hope that our paths will continue to cross in the future and that, as my career unfolds, I too will be able to support the Foundation and contribute to its work.”
I want to support professional projects like Daniel’s