Studying towards a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Statistics
The breath-taking landscapes, biculturalism, and the safe environment that New Zealand offers helped Jee Chee to choose New Zealand as her second home.
"I chose to come to New Zealand mainly because of my childhood friends who also joined the University of Canterbury (UC) with me," she says. "Apart from that, I love the nature and culture of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It is a safe, friendly, and welcoming country."
Originally from Malaysia, Jee Chee chose to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree and start her next adventures abroad at UC because of the University"s centralised campus, which is conveniently located in Christchurch and close to all the amenities. The world-class reputation of the University, the number of social and academic clubs along with incredible student support services and welcoming atmosphere are the key factors influencing her choice.
"I chose to study at UC because of its campus location, the variety of programmes, the university clubs, the people, and the ambience. The campus is located in one area, making it more convenient. In addition, I love all the clubs that UC has, such as tramping, frisbee, fencing, snowboarding, and there are many other academic clubs, such as WITSOC, which help us to prepare for an internship or graduate job offer."
"The support services available for international students and its community are the best things about UC. The lecturers and staff are more than willing to help if a student encounters difficulties and seek their help. In addition, the cherry blossoms at UC during spring are magnificent; it is the best spot for a picnic with friends during a study break or lunch."
Her experience at UC has been amazing. She has been developing new skills and gaining knowledge in her area of study, which has been particularly useful during her internship.
"My first internship was at Powerco (an electrical engineering company) in 2021. The experience was great as there were constant catch-ups with interns to ensure they were all fine, a well-structured internship programme throughout the three months, good engagement with other interns, a good work-life balance, and more benefits. For this summer break, I got an internship as an intern in the Data and Analytics team at Ernst & Young (EY)."
UC offers a great student life which allows Jee Chee to attend classes, be part of social and academic clubs, and have extra time to work part-time as her student visa permits. She says, "I used to work part-time as a waitress at Vic's Cafe for a year, and now working part-time as a bakery assistant in New World for almost a year. Both taught me communication skills with customers, and how to interact better with people."
Jee Chee's number one tip is to "Try attending all the career or tech fairs, CV or interview workshops, Git Hub workshops, and events hosted by UC academic clubs to expand your connections and gain new skills that the University will not normally teach during lectures. Most importantly, be interested in the area that you are studying to keep the motivation going."
