Meet Kalliopi

3 years ago, I had the opportunity to travel in Wales and visit some friends that were already students at USW. In that period, I was looking to continue my studies at a university and pursue the engineering career, as that was always my dream. During my visit on campus, I had the opportunity to talk with the course leader and some lecturers of the civil engineering team, visit the laboratories, and talk about my future aspects and inspirations.

They helped me a lot to understand the benefits of studying engineering and how important step that could be for me, if I decided to study abroad. So, after I arrived back to Greece, I made more research about the university, discussed it with my family that they were and still are here for me and support me in every step I make, I followed all the process that was required, and today I am a final year student at USW.

I was also nominated for the Timber development program, well known as the TRADA Challenge 2022, where with a team of engineering, architecture, project management and quantity surveying students from different universities, had to design a commercial building in Herefordshire made of timber and other materials that will reduce the carbon footprint inside the building. It was a great experience, as we all gained knowledge of details and situations you face in real estate, and how important collaboration in teams is to complete an entire project. 

During the summer of 2022, I decided to stay in Wales and try to start gaining experience into the civil engineering field. I had the opportunity to work as an assistant Land Surveyor for a land surveying company in Hirwaun, Aberdare. I learnt about topographical and utility surveying, and design processes by using a variety of software programs. I can already see on my final year of my studies that my placement was more than beneficial, as I learnt so many things that now help me improve myself more and give more ideas for projects we have to complete.