Bruno Carias Dardengo was readying for postgraduate study in Germany when his girlfriend suggested UTS College. He says, “I was sending all the documents to the German government when she said, ‘Why don’t you go to Australia instead? There are good universities, good schools. You like the beach, and the weather is perfect…’ I’m from Rio de Janeiro and my main interest is surfing, so I thought it was a good idea.” Bruno’s girlfriend was also researching study opportunities in Australia, and she told him about the pre-master’s courses at UTS College.
After completing a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 2017, Bruno had been working in data analysis for a marketing organization. “I was working with eCommerce – like a fashion eCommerce – related to data analysis. But it was always my dream to return to the civil engineering environment. That’s why I decided to come to Australia,” he says. “My pre-master’s course was the Graduate Certificate in Technology Practice, and now I’m doing a Master of Engineering at UTS.”
Getting used to Australia while he polished his English.
Although Bruno is now studying at UTS, he has fond memories of his time at UTS College. He says, “I remember we had a very good subject called Research Technology. We could chat about research-related articles and literature reviews. That’s when I learnt a lot about Australia and about university. The College made it easy to get used to Australia and focus on my studies. We had resources like Canvas that were easy to use. Also, when I needed help, I could just call UTS College.”
The experience also helped Bruno brush up his English. He says, “I lived in England for a year, but that was nine years ago in 2014 and I didn’t participate in so many discussions. During my Graduate Certificate we were always talking in English, discussing in English, sharing our thoughts in English, and I think that’s one of the most valuable skills I gained.”
The UTS College model of learning, Learning.Connected, was another highlight for Bruno. “I loved it. I like to begin a class having some contact with the subject I’m going to study. It means, instead of having new content in the class, I can already give some feedback and share my thoughts and questions. I think it gives more meaning to the discussions in class because everyone can share what they’ve already read. I really liked it,” he says.
A surprise win
Bruno’s enthusiasm paid off. He was announced as winner of the Outstanding Graduate Prize. This is a generous cash award for achieving the highest grade-point average (GPA) in his course. It was a pleasant surprise. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it was a great relief. After leaving my home country and coming here, it feels like it was all worth it,” he says. He and his girlfriend celebrated with an Italian dinner (after surfing, Bruno’s other passions are food and coffee). He says, “I’m loving the food here. I don’t have a favourite place to eat, but Bronte Beach is my favourite place to go. I love the beach and my girlfriend lives there. We like to have coffee at Bronte Belo Café.”
Finding a second home on campus
He's also enjoying campus life at UTS. He says, “There are great resources, especially in engineering, and I can put my knowledge into practice. And I really like the environment of the library. I’d say it’s my second home in Australia. I’m always there.”
Bruno says he has no regrets about his decision to come to Sydney and has words of encouragement for other international students. “Don’t be afraid,” he says. “I think the hardest thing about living in another country is worrying about being alone. But here in Sydney it’s easy to make friends, I think. There are many people from other countries, and Australians are welcoming. Just try to enjoy everything and make the most of it.” He also says it’s important to be doing something you love. “I just liked what I did, and I think when you like what you’re studying, you put more effort in. It makes a difference when you’re feeling it. Try to focus on something you like.”
Find out more about the Graduate Certificate in Technology Practice
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