Maisha Maimuna

What was your motivation to study in Hungary?

Going through the university admission stage be one of the stressful phases of my life. I first attempted the public entrance exam of my home country(which happens to be the hardest one) and after a hefty amount of hardwork, I got into the public medical college and the 1st ranked university. However, since my childhood I aspired to be an Engineer. I didn’t stop there, pushed myself, I started applying for abroad and Hungary was one of the places I applied to. To be more precise, looking at the history of PTE which dates back to 1367, I felt there is something about it that makes the university unique/different from others. I read about PTE and eventually the city which is enriched with culture, heritage etc. It got me intrigued to apply and pursue my dream. That is pretty much about it.

Tell me something interesting about yourself.

I am a singer, I love to paint and do photography, hand crafts. Interesting fact: I love to organise everything around me, I really take good notes and I love collecting stationaries.

How do you spend your free time?

In the free time, I work on my personal development which helps me enrich myself even more and learn new skills. Besides, I practice singing, I am a public speaker which helps me gain support from people and my surroundings. I also do volunteering and Erasmus Projects which help me broaden my knowledges of interaction.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I aspire to see myself working in one of the world’s top company (e.g. Google, Apple, Microsoft etc) as an IT specialist. When I am solvent enough financially, I also want to open an IT farm back in home, to make source of earnings for women by hiring them in different positions.

Was it difficult to make new friends here?

It always starts with a simple converstaion. As an extrovert individual, it was not hard but sometimes gets a bit harder because of the different background we come from. But overall, everyone here was nice enough to befriended with.

Did you have any challenges regarding cultural differences?

In the beginning, it was suprising at times but I always love to embrace new cultures/ new languages. I love to learn different aspects of various cultures. The more you open up, the more people welcome you!

Do you have any advice for future engineers?

Engineering is a challenging but rewarding field that can lead to exciting and fulfilling career opportunities. It is a collaborative field, and teamwork is essential to success. Always choose to study what your heart desires. You can always excel and shine on your interested field. Any topic/ suggestions relevant to CSE or any academic criteria, you know you can always find me!

What do you like about our Faculty?

Personally, I got the perfect calm and not so stressing environment to shine and work in, persistently which I preach about among students.

Starting from the Professors to a simple worker in faculty, everyone has been always welcoming and helpful enough all through the journey. The faculty itself is equipped with different tools/assitance that are needed in this era to actually learn about Engineering from different fields. The labs are well-furnished, the instruments are updated. This faculty also has a spacious area by being in the slope of Mecsek Mountain which apparently becomes the ’cherry on top’!

Maisha Maimuna all the way from Dhaka, Bangladesh, she a sophomore, currently pursuing her Bachelor in Computer Science Engineering under Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship.

Can you tell me something in Hungarian? Do you practice Hungarian? :D

I learned Hungarian as a part of my scholarship but I would regret if I didn’t. I find it very interesting and somewhat closer to my mother tongue even though I was said it to be hard one. Thanks to my lovely language professors who helped me all the way to make conversation in real life. People get really happy when they hear me speaking little hungarian in day-to-day life. I suggest everyone to learn, to practice the language because it helps you socializing with the community more, and eventually helps you get jobs, places. I can make basic conversation Szia! Maisha vagyok. Jol vagy?

A pécsi egyetemen tanulok. Bangladesh-i vagyok. Pécs gyönyörű város és szeretem. Nagyon szépen köszönöm! My most favourite word from the language is: ’Köszönöm szépen’.

What was your motivation to study in Hungary?

I believe that Hungarian universities provide a high-quality education system to many international students, creating an open-minded environment that I want to be a part of. Furthermore, Hungarian universities have partnerships with other universities throughout the world, providing a great opportunity for me to engage with different cultures and gain a global perspective. It has been one of my goals to experience and learn from diverse cultures, and studying in Hungary will allow me to achieve this goal. Moreover, Hungarian universities are well-equipped with facilities that supply and help students with the needed materials, and the professors and educational curriculum are designed to engage students and challenge them.

Tell me something interesting about yourself.

When I was 16, I attended a workshop session that was conducted by high school students called „TACHYONS.” They discussed basic electronics parts, programming, and how to create basic projects using Arduino microcontroller. Since then, I have developed a passion for the field of engineering and have started to participate in science fairs.

How do you spend your free time?

Usually, when I have free time, I divide it into two portions. The first portion is for my alone time, during which I go jogging, listen to music, and read the latest tech news and articles. The second portion is for more socializing, during which I go out with my friends.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I believe that I will become a successful engineer who is accepted by my team. I will put in my best effort and have a positive impact whether it is in an academic job or an industrial one.

Was it difficult to make new friends here?

Starting a new life from scratch and making new friends is not an easy journey, especially when I first arrived in 2020 and the COVID-19 virus caused a period of lockdown and online studying. However, as normal life began to return, I was able to meet wonderful people and become more immersed in this vibrant environment. Currently, I am fortunate to have good friends.

Did you have any challenges regarding cultural differences?

When I came here, I was only 19 years old, and it was my firsttime leaving home and traveling. Hungary being a European country was a doubtful advantage. On one hand, it made it easier for me to navigate the streets because transportation is well-organized, and it is a safe country. On the other hand, it was difficult because most Hungarians don’t speak English, and their second language is German.

Is there anything you particularly enjoy in Pécs/Hungary?

For Pecs, I like that it has a lot of students, which encourages me to pursue my degree when I feel homesick. Besides, I appreciate how there are always green areas around me, no matter where I am in the city. As for Hungary, I am really impressed with its well-planned transportation system. It is the best I have found in a European country so far. Additionally, Budapest’s stunning old architecture and modern vibe make it close to my heart.