Xing Zi, one of our newest Student Ambassadors, is in Australia to follow his dream of a career in Artificial Intelligence. “My dream job would be in Computer Vision (a field of AI that enables computers to read digital images),” he says. He’s interested in researching the application of computer vision in autonomous driving as part of a future PhD.
Now studying Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) at UTS, Xing began his UTS experience at UTS College, where he studied Academic English before completing a Diploma of IT. He is originally from the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, North of Shanghai. Before coming to Australia, Xing studied briefly in Ireland. He says, “I didn’t have a special reason to go there. It was really because some of my high school classmates were there.”
After two semesters, Xing was struggling with physics and chemistry and didn’t feel the course he’d chosen was right for him. That’s when his father suggested going to Australia. “My father had good advice. He told me there are big companies there,” he said. “And UTS has a high ranking for AI. Chinese parents, they say the QS ranking is important. So, I came here.”
Fast-track to UTS
Xing enjoyed the international atmosphere at UTS College. “I made friends with students from different countries. It was a great experience for me,” he says. “I think the Academic English was helpful – it’s very different from English in everyday life. It was also good to learn about group work and presentations. And the Diploma of IT helped me to learn some programming, and things like databases and how to develop websites. I also learnt more about mathematics – my mathematics was not great. And it was a fast way to get to second-year at UTS.”
From Student Helper to Student Ambassador
UTS College was also where Xing first became engaged with the wider student community as a volunteer Student Helper. He joined a group of local and international students who help new students, answering questions during Welcome Week. Student Helpers also assist at events held by the Student Activities Club. “One of my best memories was organising the game, ‘computation’ for Orientation Day. I met so many new people.” These experiences put Xing on a pathway to becoming a Student Ambassador.
He's excited about his new role, although he says he is still finding his way at this stage. “A lot of work will be on social media,” he says. “I will take many photos and share my life at UTS.” Xing has already posted pictures of campus life, some of his travels, some delicious meals, and his photogenic kitten, ‘Python.’ He’s enjoying Sydney life and looks forward to sharing more of his experiences. He says, “The weather is good, and there are many beaches. I like Bondi. Outside of study, I take time out every day to exercise. I really like outdoor sports, like long-distance hiking.”
A bigger, better ambassador program
UTS and UTS College recently merged The Ambassador Program (TAP) accounts – UTS domestic, UTS international, and UTS College into a combined platform that now gives future students access to a diverse community of more than 50 ambassadors. Whether you want to gain a student’s perspective about life on campus or need to chat with a staff member about a specific course area, they’ll be online, ready to answer your questions. Prospective students can search by type of ambassador (student, staff, or alumni) and also by course to learn more about UTS degrees, UTS College pathways, campus life, accommodation, living in Sydney and much more.