Wan Yew Leong, who graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Systems) in 2007, speaks about his UQ experience.

I came to UQ from Malaysia because of its reputation as one of the world's top universities.

I liked the idea of working on both computer hardware and software, and have included some interaction design courses in my program.  This has allowed me to see the human and artistic aspects of technology.  I have a passion for music and for my thesis project I built an Affective Guitar Engine.  It's a dynamic guitar effects processing engine and has allowed me to combine my interest in art with engineering and to learn new things about both.  I won a prize for most imaginative project demonstration at the School of ITEE's annual student innovation expo.

UQ has a great campus environment and I've enjoyed absorbing the local culture.  I'm an active member of the Japanese Student Society. 

I've had vacation work with local electricity retailer, Energex, as an intern in their technical standards and network performance departments.  Long-term, I'd like to work in an area of engineering with a focus on the artistic and human aspects.  I think the human element should be the primary motivation in the development of technology.

Chooi Guan Lim (from Singapore Polytechnic), Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) 2006 with first class honours, is a self-employed software engineer with his own business, Skyjuice Software. He built a computer program, Ezy Grant Writer, to help charity and community groups and businesses access millions of dollars from grants.

I previously worked at UQ in 2000 for approximately four months with a lecturer at the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) as part of the industrial attachment program while completing my diploma. I liked the environment and computing facilities available and standard of living in Brisbane. The opportunity to obtain a fully paid scholarship up to honours level was another reason I applied. I've been using computers for a very long time and have previously undertaken diplomas in multimedia and e-business. I could have delved into a multimedia degree but decided to take up IT instead for something different. And I suppose it's paid off because I managed to get the full scholarship.

With my honours thesis, I did a project involving a digital narrative for children, which is an area I would probably have never considered simply because it's very multidisciplinary and not purely focused on computer science. Doing honours also provided me some insight into the life of a researcher.

My long-term goals are to expand my business. My ultimate aim is to develop ways computers can be used to help people. I may possibly take up a PhD in the future, however I will still be running my own business.

I was also employed by UQ as a research assistant and tutor, writing software to assist a senior psychology lecturer with her experiments and PhD students and providing practical advice and assistance to final-year IT students. The degree provided me with both a theoretical and practical background allowing me to apply my knowledge in practical or verbal ways.

John Kin Choong Ngui and his twin brother Arthur Kin Seng, from Malaysia, both graduated with first class honours in Information Technology in 2006.  John is working as a researcher at UQ and Arthur is an intern at SAP's Brisbane research centre.

John is working on 3D visualisation for earth science processes, using supercomputer simulation.  He says it is challenging but he is constantly learning and gets to work with leading researchers and in excellent facilities.  Arthur is working in e-health, focussing on how to integrate health information for sharing amongst practitioners so they can be better informed.  He finds it exciting, challenging and fun developing ideas that will be used in the future. Both boys are attracted to the way technology evolves and how it shapes our daily lives.

"We were attracted to UQ because of its reputation - dedicated staff who win teaching awards;  links with industry;  study programs recognised around the globe;  superb resources", says Arthur.  "But UQ is also a fun place to study and Brisbane is a beautiful city.  The cost of living is reasonable, the climate is pleasant, the city is clean and the pace of life is not too hectic.  The people are friendly and helpful, which helps foreign students to feel welcome and comfortable."

John adds that UQ has partnerships with many international educational institutions, which allowed him and his brother to study part of their degree in their home country (reducing costs) and the latter part abroad (which gave them the international experience).  "Through the arrangement with our home institution, UQ gave us credit for all the courses we'd done there", says John, "and they offered me a scholarship to do honours, based on my undergraduate results."

They say that the courses they studied very much prepared them for working life.  "The content keeps pace with advancements in technology and market trends", says Arthur, "and we've had the opportunity to work as tutors at UQ and to write research papers".

The brothers' advice to prospective students is to work diligently and seek to understand the concepts that are taught, not just memorising things.  Seek advice early - the staff are always happy to help.  But also make the most of your time in Australia - study hard and play hard.  "Always give your best in everything you do as you strive to reach your dreams, but don't forget the people and things around you", says John.  Arthur adds, "In life we falter many times, and it is important to pick ourselves up and strive forward."

Riza Harmonika came from Universitas Indonesia in July 2006 as an advanced standing student to complete a Bachelor of Information Technology degree.

Information Technology is very dynamic - technology develops rapidly and I was curious to learn about it.  My father gave me some good advice:  choose your field of study not only on what you like, but also on how much it can benefit other people.  IT people can work almost anywhere.

I was attracted to UQ's commitment to excellence.  People I know who have graduated from UQ are wonderful - they came back to Indonesia with a broader outlook and valuable knowledge.  I want to be like them.  UQ also has good quality learning facilities and excellent support for students.  The orientation for new students helped me to adapt to both campus life and Australian life.  Brisbane is a supportive environment for international students.

The lecturers at UQ not only teach me the concepts, but also how to use them in the real world.  And the courses are kept up-to-date in a business sense.

I'm looking forward to continuing to get good grades and to graduate.  Some of the courses I'm doing are inspiring me to consider further study. Otherwise I could be working as a systems developer, systems analyst, web designer....who knows?!

Jong Yong Abdiel Foo from Singapore, (pictured on right with ITEE's Dr Stephen Wilson), holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from UQ and works as a Research Fellow in the Biomedical Research Centre at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

I chose to do my program at UQ due to its reputation as a renowned Australian university. Furthermore, I was attracted to the people, lifestyle and culture at the St Lucia campus.

I was privileged to study at the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) where I was given professional supervision and opportunities to present my research at several international conferences. Such interactions helped me broaden my horizons and understanding in my field of study.

I enjoyed the different cultural experiences and people of diverse nationalities that I encountered while studying at UQ. This enhanced my learning and the attaining of a good academic degree.

There are two main things I am proud of pertaining to my study in UQ. Firstly, the academic publications stemming from my research at UQ – 12 scholarly journal articles, 20 international conference papers and more than 15 other public outputs. Secondly, the many international friends and acquaintances I came to know through on-campus clubs

In my opinion, UQ provides a very conducive environment for both academic studies and cultural exchanges. I would encourage international students to be open to all learning experiences for an enriching stay in UQ.

I believe the reputation of UQ as a good Australian university made a positive difference in securing my current position.

My future plans include continuing to make significant contributions to improve health sectors through the skills and knowledge I acquired at UQ. In addition, I hope to impart and share my learned experiences to benefit the community as a whole.

Nguyen, Trung Thanh, Master of Engineering (Computer Systems) 2004, currently working for Philips Electronics, Singapore

I found the courses offered in the School of ITEE's Master of Engineering program extensive in theory and also in practical experience. This experience really helped to prepare me for my job. I'm a Lead Application Engineer with Philips Electronics in Singapore and part of my role is to work with the Sales and Marketing team to design new applications in consumer electronics. The thing I like the most about my job is that I have been able to move into operating at a business level and am gaining experience in business management, in addition to the highly technical side of my job.

UQ is an excellent environment for study. During my time at UQ, I had the opportunity to work with some brilliant people who gradually became close friends and mentors.  Study at ITEE opened my eyes to some new techniques that allowed me to become more open minded when problem solving and also taught me how to manage multiple projects.

Brisbane offers a relaxing lifestyle and excellent public services. I would recommend that new students to Brisbane should just be themselves and they will get along well with their new life and program very quickly. And don't leave until you've had a barbecue with your friends along the Brisbane River!

Lim, Hooi Chen (Jasca), BInfTech 2006, works for Hewlett Packard Asia Pacific

Adrian Wee Chin Mun (PhD, Electrical Engineering) (Current)

I was a lecturer at Multimedia University in Malaysia and had worked for a multinational electrical consulting and networking company before I decided to come to UQ to commence my PhD in embedded systems.

I feel that embedded systems are the way of the future and find their flexibility is intriguing. I hope to be able to make some good discoveries in the embedded systems area and help others recognise its significance.

UQ is an excellent university and both the undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs are very properly structured. The technical level of the courses in ITEE is certainly of a high level and would help to produce good engineers.

Brisbane is quite a multicultural city and there should not be any problem for other international students who want to have food from home or meet up with people from your country. I found the people of Brisbane friendly and it is quite easy to fit in.

What other students say...