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Advice from an International Student (and now Graduate!)

30th October 2017 Posted by: Student World Online

AFTER completing his master’s, Student World catches up with Jonas Dumdum, an international student from the Philippines, to see how he reflects on the year, his course, and if he has any advice for international students.

Student World Online: Hi Jonas! Congratulations on finishing. How are you feeling? Relieved? Excited?

It would be best described as a mix of relief, humility and excitement. I told people that I finished the craziest experiment of my current lifetime!

SWO: Tell us a little about the highlights of your course.

Over the course of one year, we were taught the major parts of renewable energy sources and how to maximise the resources that we hold dear such as the soil and the waters around us.

SWO: What was the most challenging part?

The challenging part of it all was how to condense everything into one year. There is so much to learn but it was a faster pace than undergraduate education.

SWO: What’s the biggest thing you have learned?

The biggest thing that I learned is that in order for us to move forward, we need to change the way we think about the environment. However, we also need to balance this with the needs of the people around us because fully abandoning other sources of energy will cost jobs and lives would change in the negative when not done right.

 

Location

SWO: Was the UK/Wales your top choice or were there other countries you were considering?

I initially thought I would be doing this in Australia or New Zealand, but UK and Wales eventually came up on top.

SWO: Are you glad you picked the UK/ Wales?

Indeed, I am. No turning back even if I would do this again.

SWO: When you were first looking to study abroad, what research did you do?

I went to education fairs in the Philippines and talked to agencies that are linked to UK Education. They were quite helpful.

SWO: How did you find the Wales when you first arrived?

Wales was surreal. It is not like your usual UK postcard photo that you would get in the mail, so I had to think how to do things from an empty canvas.

SWO: Did you consider other universities? What made you choose South Wales?

I did consider other universities, but South Wales had a special appeal to me as if I really wanted to be there. It seemed new and fresh at the same time.

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SWO: What was your campus like?

Hilly (which still bothers my legs haha!) but quite modern and informal at times. People here are friendly and helpful whether you are a local, a Home student or an International student. The surroundings are peaceful and there has not been a case of bad behaviour around.

SWO: What have you seen and done whilst in Wales?

In the course of one year, I became our course representative and helped improve the course based on student feedback, became a university student blogger and student ambassador, and I became the co-team lead of the USW International Welcome Programme. In between, I have met influential people from Welsh academia, the UK renewable energy industry, and even our chancellor Lord Rowan Williams. I did my dissertation on fuel cell research and it was also a rewarding experience.

SWO: Is there anything you don’t like about it?

It can get too cold here sometimes, but I have learned to deal with it!

Student Experience

SWO: Has your experience lived up to everything you were expecting?

It has surpassed my expectations, to be honest. It went to beyond the realm of ‘It is so crazy but it is fun’ kind of expectation.

SWO: Anything you were hoping to experience but missed out on?

Perhaps I needed to explore more of the UK now that I’m done!

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SWO: What advice would you give to an international student right now who is thinking of coming to the UK and Wales?

Whatever notions you know about the UK and Wales, drop it. Start with a new perspective and immerse yourself when you get here.

SWO: So, what’s the most typically Welsh thing you’ve done so far?

Singing ‘Hymns and Arias’ on an Autumn International Rugby match!

SWO: Can you cook a Welsh cake now?

I would love to experiment now, especially after I've seen Jamie Oliver’s version of the Welsh cake!

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SWO: What are your plans now after graduation?

Find a job. Hopefully in Europe where my field is most advanced.

Thanks, Jonas, best of luck for the future! 

 

 


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