Timson Maethara Fagai
2nd-year student, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
For Timson Maethara Fagai, deciding to study electrical engineering was easy – it’s a skill his country really needs.
“As a developing nation in the Pacific, the Solomon Islands have many schools and clinics in remote areas that lack a safe and consistent supply of electricity. Electrical faults are one of the major risks that have affected people recently. As a future electrical engineer, I’d like to venture into the power industry of my country to make sure that there is a safe and reliable supply of electricity. I’d also like to tap into more ways of generating renewable energy for my country.”
Deciding to come to AUT to help him achieve his goal was easy for him.
“I’d say the name speaks for itself, Auckland University of Technology. I chose AUT because the name resonates well with me, and I appreciate how up-to-date AUT is with the modern use of technology in terms of practical or applied projects. Furthermore, it has experienced lecturers across a wide range of technological industries. Studying here has helped me discover new concepts and disciplines, and that knowledge can be used in different areas of life and enables me to view my surroundings from different perspectives.
“My degree has a lot of practical aspects you need to complete in order to graduate. The programme also includes hands-on individual or group projects. For example, my engineering design course had group work projects that involved technical drawings, sketches and 3D CAD modelling. I also like that AUT offers opportunities for students to connect with people from different industries across New Zealand. By attending the AUT ICT & Engineering Career Expo, I – as a local village boy – could step out of my comfort zone, ask questions and build the right connections with the right people. It gave me insight into what lies ahead or which direction I should follow.”
Supported to thrive
He has been impressed by the amount of support available to him at AUT, says Timson who came to AUT as an international student supported by a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
“Health is one of the most important aspects of life, and AUT provides student health services that make sure all students are healthy and ready for learning. To help us maintain good health, AUT also provides gym facilities or sport and recreation centres on campus. Moreover, it offers a student counselling service, which I visited when I experienced anxiety and stress that affected my academic performance. Additionally, AUT has libraries as well as extra library workshops, lecture theatres, labs, free spaces, and rooms for studying or group work. The tutoring service for engineering students provided by AUT at WZ has also helped me pass my toughest course, Mechanics in my first year; a course many students fail. These services have all helped me in my studies so far.”
He has also appreciated the support from AUT’s Employability and Careers team.
“Coming from a developing nation, it’s been surprising to see how much AUT’s Employability and Careers team helps students. Firstly, the volunteering opportunities on and off campus advertised by the team really pushed me to build my social skills. As a new international student, at first it was a bit difficult to get together with others, but those opportunities completely shattered the wall that kept me stuck in the same position. My confidence slowly increased, and I can now look back and reflect upon my old self to become a better version of myself for my country.”
Advice for other students
Timson has some great advice for other students who are thinking about university.
“Don’t let bad grades define who you are. Don’t care too much about the expectations of society. Don’t think that you’re not strong enough to take on the greatest challenges. Let every day be an opportunity to learn, improve and be the best version of yourself, academically, physically and spiritually.”
He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to others.
“AUT is absolutely one of the best institutions I have ever been to. I’d recommend AUT, not only because of the academic side but also because it has all the means of support necessary for a student to excel further in life.”
