International Engineering Ambassadors
Insight into the life & course of international students.

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Meet Our International Engineering Ambassadors: Saylee



Name: Saylee Jangam

Course: BEng Bioengineering

Nataionality: Indian













Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in Mumbai and spent the first six years of my life there before moving to another city in India for a year and then finally, moving to Hong Kong at the age of seven. When people ask me where I’m from, it’s an odd combination of India and Hong Kong. After five years in Hong Kong, I moved back to India and did my IGCSEs and A levels at RIMS International School & Junior College, Pune. All this travelling has really shaped me as an individual and has led me to study Bioengineering at the University of Sheffield.

Why did you choose the University of Sheffield to study your subject?
I chose the University of Sheffield because it offers Bioengineering as a degree with the flexibility of choosing a specialization in second year instead of the first. This gives students a year to explore the different aspects of Bioengineering and choose one that appeals to them the most. Bioengineering at Sheffield is extremely interdisciplinary in terms of the number of departments that contribute to it – seven to be precise! And apart from all this, the University is ranked 69th in the World Times Higher Education rankings and is a top institution in the UK.

What’s the most enjoyable thing about studying your subject at the University of Sheffield?
The most enjoyable thing about my course would be the diversity of it. I have an electronics module as well as a human anatomy module. Because so many departments contribute to my degree, I get the opportunity to meet other engineering students during class which is always fun. What I love about my department is that we often have these tutorials where we look at the ‘big picture’, we discuss how Bioengineering is changing healthcare in the UK and all over the world, especially in developing countries and how it has the potential to solve major problems. These talks are motivational and thought provoking and are exactly what a student needs to hear from time to time as a reminder of how important the things we’re learning are. 

What are the most valuable aspects of your course?
One of the most valuable aspects of my course is the guest lectures that the department regularly organises on the different specialisations available to choose from in second year. Another great thing about the Faculty of Engineering at Sheffield is the fact that they put a large emphasis on careers and have talks from people working in Industry. Recently, I attended a talk by a professor in my department organized by the Institute of Engineering and Technology – which students at the University get to be members of – on the topic of biomedical engineering research. 

How did you find the teaching and study methods at the University of Sheffield?
One thing that got me excited in my lectures was the use of ‘clickers’. This is an app on your smartphone which enables you to answer the question asked by the professor at that moment in a class of 200 people. The app then records your answer, collates the data from the rest of the class and prepares a bar graph of the percentage right and wrong. The professor will then discuss the answer. I feel this method is effective to keep such a large class engaged and attentive. It also helps to know where you’re going wrong if you are. 

Some lecturers also put up recordings of actual lectures on MOLE (My Online Learning Environment) which is an online university portal that you use to access all your study materials which is very helpful as you can log back in any time to access anything you need. These methods make information accessible to students if and when they need it, at their own convenience. And of course, there’s always the iSheffield app!

What do you see as the benefits of an education from the University of Sheffield?
The most important benefit of an education at the University of Sheffield is that your professors are one of the top academics in their field. They have the relevant knowledge and experience that you need to do well in your course and they are always willing to help…you just have to be brave enough to ask for it!  And in fact, that’s what you eventually learn to do at university – get brave enough to ask for help. 

The university offers great careers services to its students and has a student advice centre for any personal problems. The Students Union is THE place to go if you need any sort of help – whether it is opening a bank account when you’re new in Sheffield or grabbing a quick bite to eat between two lectures. An education at UoS is beneficial for the balance between academics and social activities you can find here.

What in your opinion is the best thing about life at the University of Sheffield?
The best thing about life here is that there is just so much on offer you can literally never get bored. At the University of Sheffield, there is an abundance of choice and never boredom, and your only challenge is to choose and to manage your time well. 

What do you hope to achieve after you’ve finished your course?
After my course, I would like to either continue studying for a Masters degree or work for a while and then get back to academia. I see myself working for the development of rural countries and this is something I would like to get involved in from the start which is why I have joined the Engineers Without Borders Society

What advice would you give for prospective students coming to Sheffield?
I would tell prospective students not to worry about moving away from home. You might get homesick but take it from my own experience – you will honestly have no time to be thinking about it once you start your course. Uni life is fast paced and keeping up with it helps you grow as a person. It is a challenging time that pushes you outside your comfort zone and whilst all this is happening, Sheffield as a city provides you a safe and friendly atmosphere like a home away from home.

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