"There are tons of opportunities during and after studies for incoming and graduate students"-a student ambassador story
Tell us about yourself and your studies
I was born in Pakistan and moved to Istanbul, Turkey for my bachelor's degree in 2017. I received my admission letter on the 7th of April, one day after my birthday, and it was the best birthday surprise I could wish for! I was delighted to join and become a member of one of Finland's top educational institutions. I am currently pursuing my master's education in Statistical Data Analytics. I would like to continue growing professionally in the field and expand my network for more job opportunities in Finland. I would highly recommend that prospective individuals apply to Tampere University!
Pursuing a Master's degree is one of the highlights of my educational life. At first, it seemed overwhelming but after a couple of months here I feel right at home.
Why did you choose your current programme?
“Without big data analytics, companies are blind and deaf, wandering out onto the web like deer on a freeway.” – Geoffrey Moore, author, and consultant.
This is one of the funniest quotes I came across a couple of years back and it took me by surprise. "How could data be so important?" was the question I used to ask myself every once in a while, and then I stumbled upon a course programme named "information systems and design", where we took on a role as a data analyst and had to work with databases and SQL. Funnily enough, I chose my current program because I had fallen in love with SQL. I love the idea of running through thousands and hundreds of rows of data trying to clean it and coming up with powerful insights which can in return help the business run in a better way.
Clive Humby, a British mathematician, coined the term "data is the new oil" in 2006.
This analogy has proven right, as data now fuels entire businesses and is extremely valuable. The value of this field and promising career prospects is one of the main reasons I chose this programme.
Can you share with us your experiences in Finland and Tampere?
I personally love nature which is why I am in love with Finland and Tampere, because everywhere I go there are forests, trees and nature! The Tampere city center is another place I enjoy a lot. It has a town-like vibe, filled with old structures and converted factories, whose chimneys bellow smoke, which I find very beautiful.
What kind of student activities have you participated in?
Tampere university has a lot of clubs and guilds and all of them are fun to be a part of. I am a part of ESN FINT (the Erasmus group) and FUSKI which are student clubs at Tampere University. Both are always active in preparing events for university students. One such activity was organized by FUKSI for the new incoming students where we had to form a team and roam around Tampere city achieving tasks through playing different games. It was an amazing experience for me.
What would you say to someone planning to study and live in Tampere?
I would advise the prospective students to definitely consider Tampere as their choice of place to study and live since it is the second largest urban area in Finland. There are tons of opportunities during and after studies for incoming and graduate students. I would say one thing though is that be prepared for the cold, even when there is no snow. It is important to wear proper clothes and eat well to manage the effects of changing weather.
What is your favourite place in the city to go for fun with friends?
Hervantajärvi is one of the places I would love to go every single day. It is a 30 minutes walk from the main Hervanta center. It is a soothing and serene sight for nature lovers. A beautiful lake in the middle of a small forest is beautiful and my favorite spot in Tampere.