- Tell us a little bit about yourself, your life after KNRTU-KAI.

- I graduated from KAI in 2015 after finishing my bachelor degree in Airplane Engineering. Soon after graduation, I went back to my home country, Indonesia, and applied for my first job at General Electric (GE) Aviation as a Field Service Engineer (FSE). I am still working at GE Aviation now supporting Indonesia’s airline that’s operating our GE engines, this is my third year in the company. I feel very fortunate to be part of this huge multinational company as my first career and to have my team as my mentors.

- Why did you choose your current job?

- I have a very huge passion for aviation and it makes me happy talking about aircraft and basically everything that can fly. Being a field service engineer does not only make me very close with the aircraft and aircraft engines, I see and understand the real problem in the field and suggest a solution for a customer, and I also work close with the airplane engines expertise. I love what I’m doing because it encourages me to continue learning every day.

- Tell us about your time at KNRTU-KAI. Why did you choose to come to Russia in the first place?

- I chose Russia because I wanted to go beyond my capability, turned out it something I would never regret. My decision to go to Russia and receiving a scholarship from the Russian government was a huge turning point in my life. Learning to adapt to new culture, weather, food and language, and also being far from my family and outside of my comfort zone has changed me a lot and helped me to be a much better person now.

When I was in KAI, besides studying, I joined a lot of other activities. KAI and Kazan facilitated me to explore things that I could not imagine I was able to do. I joined Pearl of the World beauty and talent contest representing Indonesia, performed as Tatyana reading Pushkin’s poem, competed in several Russian language competition for foreigners, and also I was part of International Student Association, and other things! I also traveled to other countries during my holidays!

- What did you enjoy most about your studies?

- Well, I would not say that it was easy, there was a lot of pain along the way, because Airplane Engineering combined with Russian language (and not to forget about the extreme weather) was very difficult. But I guess I love to study and I enjoy challenges, and maybe that is what kept me going. I love that KAI offers us a lot of activities that keep students busy. That has made my university life more colorful!

- What were your lecturers and tutors like?

- I feel that my lecturers were very thoughtful and they truly appreciated the hard work of a student. When you show that you are willing to learn and hungry for knowledge, the lecturer can feel that, and they support you for being this way. I really felt the culture of helping and empowering student to grow in every lecturer’s approach. I truly feel thankful to all my lecturers that have given me the knowledge.

- How do you think your course helped you in your career so far?

- Understanding the knowledge of aircraft, aerodynamics, structure, engines, etc. is really helpful in what I am doing right now. There were so many things to learn, and even though my knowledge was not too deep during university time, it helped me see and understand the bigger picture of aviation industry. And it also will help you to understand that the aviation industry is not just aircraft design. Your job function will include so much more than that!

- If you could give prospective students one piece of advice, what would it be?

- Enjoy your moment of being a student. Make your student life busy, fun and unforgettable not only with study, but also with organizations, competitions, performances and of course friends! Sometimes it seems 4 years is a long time and you can’t wait to be graduated, but believe me, life after university is very challenging. So enjoy your time while you can!