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A career change and a revelation from University of Nottingham Malaysia alumna
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(Courtesy of University of Nottingham Malaysia )
“My university life was remarkable as I could never ask for a better memorable experience, totally one of the best times in my life,” said Elvira Ryanto about her university life prior to graduating with Master of Engineering (Honours) Civil Engineering in June 2020.
Elvira Ryanto, an Indonesian alumna of the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) shared that while fitting in was never easy for her initially, receiving support from her classmates and the Indonesian community at the university helped tremendously.
Since its establishment in 1881, the University of Nottingham’s reputation has grown remarkably. It is ranked 103 in the QS World University Rankings 2022 and regarded as the 18th best in the United Kingdom alone. The institution received its prominent status from several factors, including outstanding teaching from some of the world’s best academics and researchers coming from 34 different countries across various fields.
In 2000, the University of Nottingham opened its first campus in Malaysia offering programs identical to its home campus in the United Kingdom, with 18 specialist schools and departments under the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, and Engineering and Science.
Elvira noted that its location in Malaysia plays an important part when it comes to choosing a university to enrol in as it is closer to home. She added, “Besides that, UNM has been known as one of the top universities with a good reputation, which I believe would increase my chances to get employed once I graduated from there.”
As for what the alumna is up to now, she has been a Product Operation Associate at Garena Company since November 2020. She is responsible for the growth and revenue of the famous Free Fire, one of the most downloaded games worldwide. While the gaming industry is not quite related to her major, she credited her experience at UNM to discover her true passion in life.
“During my study, I have taken an internship related to my degree back in Malaysia and I felt like I am not going to survive in that industry in the future,” she revealed. She later added that upon graduating, she made up her mind to focus on doing what she love and she found it in the gaming industry. Various skill sets gained during her academic year have been useful and she is able to apply them to her current job, especially technical, reasoning, and logical problem-solving skills.
When asked whether Elvira has any advice for students who are seeking a similar career path, she believed that what degree a person take in university does not determine his/her career path. Instead, it depends on skills and interest to excel at a job.
Furthermore, she noted that being active in the university, whether applying for an internship or a volunteering project, will benefit their employability, as most employers are keen to hire candidates with a wide range of skills. She urges future students to use their university life to expand on their skills, knowledge and network.
One of the experiences that she cherished in particular as an international student was organizing an Indonesian Food Fair with the UNM Indonesian Society. It was exciting to introduce Indonesian culture and cuisines to a diverse campus community on campus, which come from 75 different countries.
The collaboration skills she acquired throughout her academic year came in handy at her current job. Working for Free Fire MENA & SSA (Middle East& South Africa) has its challenges but she is grateful to be surrounded by supportive teams at Garena. “The excitement of being involved in successful collaborations with numerous well-known artists, singers, game characters, and movie characters also feels rewarding,” she said.
With 125-acres full-fledged campus and wide range of recreational facilities on campus, UNM offers a conducive learning experience like no other. After leaving the university, Elvira confessed that she missed the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere she usually experienced on campus. With the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions previously, she also missed rushing to the Chinese Stall in UNM Cafeteria during lunch hour. Since it is one of the most popular stall besides other international cuisines like Arabic and Japanese, the queue can be quite overwhelming before the pandemic.
All in all, she credited her university life to lead her to where she is now; with a job she enjoyed because of the skillset she gained as a UNM student. She is looking forward to explore more opportunities with her current organisation and wish all the best for future students who are furthering their study soon.
Undergraduate and postgraduate applications for 2022 intakes at the University of Nottingham Malaysia are now open. Find out more here or email to SEA International Officer, Ms Sara at nursahira.kamarudin@nottingham.edu.my.
