Engineering was on Raiat Khan Mahi’s radar from an early age, thanks to regular visits to construction sites with his father. He says, “Dad has a construction company back in Bangladesh. He’s a businessman, an entrepreneur, but he helps in the process. Growing up in that environment, and being interested in maths and physics, civil engineering seemed the right career for me.”
Raiat’s grateful for these experiences now, despite having been reluctant as a little boy. “I wanted to stay at home and play,” he says, “but Dad would still take me with him. He helped shape my career path and I look up to him. I already have some idea about civil engineering now, and construction in general. Seeing what goes into the foundations of buildings, how the pillars are shaped up, even how floors are made – it’s all experience and I can’t wait to apply it.”
An accelerated pathway to UTS
Now commencing second year of Bachelor of Engineering at UTS, Raiat began his studies in Australia with a Diploma of Engineering at UTS College. “When I finished my A-levels at home in June, my agent said I couldn’t articulate directly into UTS. I would have to wait until February. Or I could take an accelerated program at UTS College,” he says. An accelerated diploma program is the fastest way to get into a UTS degree. The workload is higher, but students can complete their diploma over two semesters (eight months). With his heart set on starting at UTS as soon as possible, this was the perfect choice.
“I looked at other universities, but I couldn’t find a construction specialisation in civil engineering like UTS has. UTS is the number one young university in Australia,” he says, “And it’s a technology university, which is right for my purposes. I want to major in construction and project management.” Raiat also received offers from universities in Canada and the USA but living in Australia appealed more. He says, “Sydney is safe, and it has beautiful beaches and all of that. Also, as the first in my family to study higher education abroad, it helped that some of my relatives and some of Dad’s friends live here.”
A hiccup and a lucky break
Of course, nothing ever goes exactly to plan, and for his first two weeks Raiat studied online from Bangladesh due to some visa delays. That’s when he had his first encounter with the UTS College student ambassadors. “The day of my orientation, I needed help setting up my email,” he says. “I was texting with this ambassador called Lucky and we worked it out together. He was essential in getting me started while I was still back in Bangladesh.
Despite this hiccup, Raiat soon found himself in Sydney, adapting to life at UTS College. “The way of learning was a little different to what I was used to back in high school,” he says, “but I would say it’s better. I’ve been an advocate for Learning.Connected after using it. I always tell students, ‘Do your pre-tutorials. It’s very important because you learn better.’ I feel like the old way, with lectures, it’s easy to get distracted – to feel bored and maybe not pay attention. But this way, if you’ve done that preparation before going to class, you’ll have questions. You know exactly where you need help, and you can talk to your tutor and sort it out. That’s how it worked for me.”
Becoming a student ambassador
When asked his best memory from UTS College, Raiat doesn’t hesitate. “I’d say when I got selected as an ambassador for the College,” he says. “I remember they asked me for a referral. It had to be a staff referral and I didn’t really know who to ask, and I was already running late with my application. But I had a teacher who I knew well. He was always very helpful. So, I emailed him, ‘Hey Sir, can I put your number in my application?’ He got back to me within 10-15 minutes. It was the weekend – midnight – and he just replied like, ‘Okay, don’t worry, I’ll fill it out for you.’ Within a few days I was accepted.”
Raiat says it was a dream come true. “Lucky had encouraged me to apply when I came to Sydney, and I always wanted to be a student ambassador. Back in my country I was very used to speaking up and representing a lot of different groups. I was part of a youth program, and my school’s student welfare association, and I’d seen some videos on the UTS College website and ambassadors’ Instagrams.”
Outstanding Graduate Prize and fast-track to second year
Winning the Outstanding Graduate Prize was another big moment for Raiat. It’s a $5,000 AUD award for the full-time student who achieves the highest overall grade point average (GPA) in their diploma program. He says, “I feel very honoured. When I got the news, the first thing I did was call my mum in Dhaka and she started crying. I’m the first to go to university in my family.” He also enjoyed a small celebration that night. “I play badminton every week with some guys I lived with when I first came to Australia,” he says. “They’re like my brothers over here. We had dinner together after the game, and when I told them, they said ‘This is on us’ and paid for my meal.”
Raiat’s diploma gained him direct entry to second year of Bachelor of Engineering at UTS, which he says feels ‘amazing.’ “I was always eyeing the campus when I was in college and thinking ‘I need to get to UTS soon!’ Now I’m there, it feels good. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s nice seeing some of my UTS College friends around,” he says. “And I’m in love with the library rooftop. If I’m going to the library, I like to sit on the rooftop in the sun.”
Embracing opportunities
Contemplating his future, Raiat says he wants to keep exploring his options. “There are so many exciting opportunities, and every time I see something new, I want to try it,” he says. “I wasn’t so interested in entrepreneurship and business when I was at high school, but now it’s very appealing. Perhaps I could combine it with engineering the way my father does.” He’s also gaining valuable experience with co-curricular activities. “I’m secretary of the UTS Events Society. We host networking events, parties, meetups, social gatherings, and all that. I also work at UTS Startups, and I definitely want to keep working as an ambassador,” he says.
Getting involved in the student community is important to Raiat, and it’s something he recommends to other international students. He says, “I see a lot of them ignoring the fun side of university. That doesn’t make sense to me. We’re only here for a few years, so I think we should make the most of our time. I would encourage everyone to join some clubs and societies. You can meet people who are more your vibe and make more friends.”
Find out more about the Diploma of Engineering >