Dongjun (Deakin) Ren

Why did you decide to come to UC?

I chose UC primarily because of its comprehensive curriculum, expert faculty, and the opportunity to gain practical experience through internships and projects. UC also demonstrates a commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for students, along with a vibrant campus life.

How was your time at UC?

My time at UC was a blast. It was fantastic. Making friends from all walks of life enriched my experience, along with joining clubs like the Investment Society. I cherish not only the academic growth, but also the memories and connections I built along the way.

What did you like most about UC overall?

The UC Student Association arranges all sorts of brilliant events all year long, even during term breaks. There’s always free food, and it brings students together to socialise.

I was also part of the Malaysian Student Union. I chose that club because it has great events. They did one of my favourite events with the Indian club, introducing their culture, wearing traditional clothes, and cooking local cuisine.

What makes the education at UC stand out?

Education at UC is dynamic and empowering. The courses offer students theoretical foundations and the Business School offers practical applications, like micro and virtual internships. I did micro internships twice; it was awesome. I gained real-world experience for my CV, and also won some cash prizes for a market research project.

How did you find the academic staff at UC?

UC’s academic staff are absolutely approachable. They encourage you to ask all sorts of questions. The more I communicated with them, the more interested and engaged I became in that subject or course, so it resulted in higher grades.

What did you enjoy about your studies at UC?

I liked that my lecturers gave me simulative projects, and I found I could directly apply technical skills that I learned. There were a lot of opportunities to do that with regular challenges and projects.

One of the most amazing things about UC is that it has really great connections to the professional world, so there are a lot of scholars and industry people as guest speakers.

How was your transition from your pathway to UC?

Overall it went quite smoothly. It was so easy that I almost didn’t even realise when it was sorted! UC Business School helped save me a lot of trouble and time.

What is the support like for international students at UC Business School?

The support is comprehensive, from your daily life to courses to part-time job to breakups. They have all the support you need, like Student Care and Health Centre, or even free legal advice. And it’s all free to students.

What are you doing now that you’ve graduated?

I’m working in a graduate role at Ping An Bank in Shenzhen, China. It’s an 18-month rotation for different roles including bank teller, relationship manager, corporate banker, mortgage manager, and middle/back-office departments. I like having a range of options. It gives me time to explore different roles and think about what I really want to achieve. For me, it is critical to take time to consider what I want as a graduate, instead of just rushing into it.

Did you use any UC services to help prepare you for the application and interview process?

I used UC Careers to help me prepare my CV and my job interviews. They gave me good advice and helped me build the foundation for my application.

What do you think were the key factors that made you employable and how did you develop these while studying at UC?

One thing that made me stand out was my real-world experience in challenges, competitions, and micro-internships through UC Business School. Academic skills and test scores prove that we have an impressive learning ability, but what most companies want to know is that we have ambition, perseverance, and dedication to get the work done. Gaining practical experience while still in university demonstrates these abilities.

Why is Christchurch a good place to study from a career development perspective?

Christchurch is a safe, inclusive, and multicultural place, and it’s good for students to learn from other cultures. This is very important if you want to work in other countries in the future – and even if you just want to travel. With the diverse culture that Christchurch offers, I believe students that graduate from UC are well-prepared to be successful world citizens.

Any advice for students who may be nervous about their job hunt?

You’ve worked hard and deserve this exciting new career opportunity. You've also tackled and overcome change in your life before. You've had lots of 'first days,' so you'll also come through this first day and the weeks that follow just as successfully. Have faith in yourself and your abilities.